Mengfei Li now joins us to
discuss North Korea's latest
ICBM missile test, and how
China can halt their efforts.
So Mengfei, we're
seeing a lot of tension
now between the US
and North Korea.
And leader Kim Jong
Un says that the test
was a success, his most
recent one, that the US is now
in range of his missiles.
He says all of the US--
that may be doubtful--
but we're hearing nothing come
out of China about all this.
You were just in China,
what are you hearing there?
Well Gary, thank
you for having me.
Let me say this time
recently, I was in China.
The people in China
are actually not very
anxious or worried about
all the activities going on
in North Korea.
GARY LANE: Not at all, or?
Not really.
You know, there's a
saying in English,
it's called barking
dogs do not bite.
So actually, when
you talk to people,
they believe Kim Jong Un is
just one of the barking dogs.
So it's just basically making
a big deal or making a fuss,
but actually,
there's nothing real,
or he's not going to do anything
damaging to the relationships
to the international community.
GARY LANE: So
government-wise then,
the Chinese government may
not see a sense of urgency
in all this.
So what can they do, what
will they do to stop this?
MENGFEI LI: Well right now,
all they're trying to do
is they want to portray
the peaceful, the unity.
They have bigger
things to work on.
They have a great more project.
So right now for
North Korea, what
they do right now
is they're saying,
let's not worry about it.
Let's ignore it.
Because right now,
we have better things
to do, especially in
terms of maintaining
a positive relationship
with the United States
and also the neighbors
like Japan and South Korea.
Those are very important for
the future development of China.
GARY LANE: And I'm sure they're
preoccupied a little bit
with the economy, which has
been down a little bit of late.
Oh absolutely, oh absolutely.
GARY LANE: So how do the
Chinese people really
feel about North Korea overall?
MENGFEI LI: Well, again,
you know the history.
Back in 1950 to '53 and
the Korean War, North
Korea and China were
actually allies.
So if you talk to the
average citizen, especially
younger generations, they
believe it's not a big deal,
really, because we were allies.
So let's say they have struggles
between North Korea and United
States, that's their problem.
It's not our problem.
That's a problem for the US
and North Korea to work out.
Right.
There you go.
Do they see that China
has a role in this?
Well, I think in the long run
is as long as the relationship
does not bring any more
damages or any holes to China,
I think that's the thing.
GARY LANE: You know, Teddy
Roosevelt had this saying,
speak softly but
carry a big stick.
Trump is someone who speaks
loudly and carries a big stick.
Should he kind of tone
it down a little bit?
What do you think the Trump
administration's approach
should be to China at this
point, to get their help?
Well, Gary, again, earlier
you mentioned about this Trump
administration.
US President Donald
Trump likes tweeting.
OK.
I think for the
Chinese government,
or even for the Chinese
President Xi Jinping,
number one is he need
to stop tweeting,
or he need to minimize
the tweet first.
GARY LANE: About China.
MENGFEI LI: About China.
You know, and also, he was
saying China or other nations
are not doing the job to
manipulate or to minimize
the threat from North
Korea, but actually,
the Chinese government is
saying, we are doing something.
Maybe it's just not
the way you want it.
So for the US
government, you wanted
to move along with the
project with North Korea,
you could work closely with
the Chinese government,
keep us in the loop
and let us help you.
So again, I think not too
long ago, the report came out,
the Chinese
government was saying
that United States
definitely should not
act alone on this matter.
In other words, we want
to help, but we might not
be the first country who
wants to take the first step.
Well, I'm sure the president
is looking at Japan and South
Korea very closely--
Oh, absolutely.
--and seeking
their advice as well.
Now, we appreciate
your reporting.
You have regular stories
now in Mandarin on Facebook.
It's called Chinese Christian
World News, CCWN, right right
on Facebook.
We'll be looking
for more reports.
Absolutely.
And there will be so many
more interesting stories.
Again, Gary, those are
stories that we only
have from Christian World News,
that no one else we can find.
So I would love for more
fans continue to follow us
on Facebook, check out the
unique and only stories
that we find here.
OK.
Mengfei Li, thanks
for joining us.
Thank you for having me.
