China has once again criticized the United States and called on President Donald Trump not to use what it refers to as the “so-called threat from China” as an excuse for his own ambitions to take control of Greenland.
– Stop using the so-called “China threat” as a pretext to pursue your own selfish interests, Beijing lashes out.

The statement was made during a press conference where China’s foreign ministry was asked about Trump’s announcement to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from NATO allies sending troops to Greenland. Trump justifies the tariffs by saying the US must gain control of the island, otherwise China risks taking it over.

READ MORE: Trump punishes Sweden with tariffs until he can annex Greenland: “The Survival of Our Planet”

The allies affected by the tariffs are Denmark and Sweden, but also Norway, Finland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In June, the tariffs are set to increase to 25 percent—unless Trump has been allowed to take over the island.

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Trump has called the situation, where NATO allies support Denmark instead of facilitating US annexation of Greenland, “a threat to world peace” and claimed that European countries risk “our planet’s survival” if the US does not gain control of the Arctic island, as he argues that China is already present there and could otherwise take over.

China Criticizes the USA

China has now issued a statement aimed at the American president and his plans. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, delivered the government’s statement to journalists gathered in Beijing.

– China has repeatedly clarified its position on the Greenland issue on many occasions. International law, based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, is the foundation of the current international order and must be protected, the spokesperson said, continuing:

– We urge the American side to stop using the so-called “China threat” as a pretext to pursue its own selfish interests.

ALSO READ: Message from Greenland: We do not want to be part of the USA

This is the second time China has issued such a call to the USA. As early as the beginning of January, a similar message was conveyed, that the US should stop using China as an alleged threat to pursue its own ambitions.

JD Vance: “Fantastic Natural Resources”

Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long attracted American interest thanks to its strategic position and vast mineral resources. The US already has an air base on the island, but according to Trump that is not enough—he wants to incorporate Greenland as a US state. He also claims that the motive is not the natural resources, but solely national security.

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Early last year, Vice President JD Vance participated in a Fox News interview, where he explained to viewers why Greenland is of strategic importance to the White House.

– Greenland is very strategically important for America. It has a lot of fantastic natural resources, said JD Vance.

READ MORE: US Vice President on Greenland: “Incredible Natural Resources”

Both Denmark and Greenland have rejected Trump’s plans for a sale and emphasized Denmark’s sovereignty over the island. Trump has responded by saying the US will take action “the hard way.”

– We need it because, if you look outside Greenland right now, there are Russian destroyers, there are Chinese destroyers and, even more, Russian submarines everywhere. We will not let Russia or China occupy Greenland, and that is exactly what they would do if we do not act.

ALSO READ: Åkesson Demands a Clear Stand Against the USA on Greenland

– We are going to do something in Greenland, whether they want us to or not, because if we don’t, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we are not going to have Russia or China as neighbors, Trump told reporters at the White House.

– I would love to make a deal the easy way, but if we do not do it the easy way, we will do it the hard way.

Denmark: No Chinese Warships

A central part of Trump’s statements is his argument that the US needs Greenland for security reasons. The president has claimed that Russian and Chinese warships are moving around the Arctic island and that these countries could soon become the US’s neighbors. According to Trump, this is unacceptable, and therefore action is necessary.

But the Danish head of Arctic Command, Søren Andersen, rejects these claims in an interview with Expressen.

– I have been in command here for two and a half years, and I have not yet seen a Russian or Chinese warship near Greenland. Of course, when we look over the entire Arctic Ocean and we look at Alaska—there we see Russia and China working together. But we do not see any Russian or Chinese warships around Greenland.

Andersen thus emphasizes that the perceived threat surrounding Greenland does not match Trump’s description, and that there are in practice no militarily active Russian or Chinese units near the strategically important island.

ALSO READ: Pål Jonson: Trump Exaggerates Russia’s Threat Against Greenland

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has also rejected Trump’s claims of hostile warships near the island.

– It is not a true story that we have Chinese warships everywhere. According to our intelligence service, we have not had a Chinese warship near Greenland in ten years or so, said the foreign minister at a press conference a week ago.

The Danish frigate HDMS Triton breaking ice in front of a harbor in Greenland, 2024. Photo: DivatorMKII CC BY-SA 4.0

Top Trump Official: We Have a Right to Greenland

In a Fox News interview, Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, explained the administration’s view on Greenland. According to the Trump administration, it is not a problem for the US to take control of the island, as they believe Denmark cannot defend it and therefore does not have the right to maintain control.

ALSO READ: Top Trump Official on Greenland: “We Control NATO and No One Will Do Anything Against Us”

– Greenland is as large as a quarter of the continental United States. As for Denmark, Denmark is a small country with a small economy and a small military. They cannot defend Greenland. They cannot control the territory of Greenland.

– According to all legal practices that have existed for 500 years regarding territorial control, to control a territory, you must be able to defend it, develop it, and inhabit it. Denmark has failed at all of these points.

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