A Chinese state-run media outlet has interpreted U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about drastically scaling back joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States as a move to secure a favorable landscape for this year's midterm elections.

In a commentary on the 17th, Xinhua News Agency evaluated that President Trump's announcement to reduce the scale of U.S.-South Korea military exercises reflects a sense of frustration over hitting a deadlock in policies regarding North Korea and Iran.

The agency noted that while President Trump considered the good personal relationship he built with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term as a major diplomatic achievement, he is now facing North Korea's hardline stance toward Washington and Seoul in his second term.

It added, "There is an analysis that declaring a reduction in the scale of U.S.-South Korea military exercises is close to unilaterally showing goodwill to North Korea, exposing a sense of helplessness and anxiety that it is difficult for the U.S. to achieve progress on the peninsula issue."

At the same time, it explained, "Some media outlets view that Trump's attempt to extend an 'olive branch' to North Korea to draw a positive response and score diplomatic achievements is aimed at making the Republican Party's midterm election outlook more favorable."

The agency also mentioned that interpretations are emerging that the U.S. is taking out its frustration on South Korea because the deadlock on the Iran issue—characterized by neither war nor reconciliation—is negatively impacting the midterm elections.

Xinhua stated, "Looking back at the past behavioral patterns of the Trump administration, using allies' security guarantees as a bargaining chip is a customary practice in his 'coercive diplomacy,'" adding, "The purpose is to force allies to make concessions and compromises on issues such as defense cost sharing, security policies, and even trade and tariffs."

It further noted, "Analysts point out that the Trump administration repeatedly uses security commitments to allies, such as stationed troops and military exercises, as a means of intimidation, and such an alliance system is bound to continuously erode and gradually head toward disintegration."

The Global Times, an English-language media outlet affiliated with the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, suggested that the U.S. might be seeking to initiate "direct talks" between Washington and Pyongyang.

Citing the opinion of Chinese military expert Song Zhongping, the Global Times explained, "President Trump has long sought to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, but the diplomatic efforts of his first term yielded virtually no substantial results," adding, "The decision to reduce the scale of military exercises with South Korea may reflect his intention to send goodwill to North Korea and return to direct diplomacy with Pyongyang that remained unfinished in his first term."

The outlet also introduced claims by Lü Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, who stated, "Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea are the main cause of instability on the Korean Peninsula," and "The fundamental way to resolve these tensions is for both sides to return to the negotiating table and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue, rather than escalating tensions by flexing military muscle."

Previously, President Trump stated on social media Truth Social on the 16th local time, "I have instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to significantly scale back joint exercises" between South Korea and the U.S.

President Trump also claimed, "Given the very good relationship Kim Jong-un and I enjoy, I have long disliked the fact that the United States has agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea," calling it "entirely inappropriate and a hostile signal."

He also wrote, "Although somewhat unrelated, I asked South Korean President [Lee Jae-myung] whether he would be willing to join efforts for the denuclearization of Iran, but they said, 'No thanks!'"

Without offering specific evaluations of President Trump's remarks, the Chinese government emphasized a principled position that a political resolution to the Korean Peninsula issue is necessary.

During a briefing on the 17th, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian was asked whether China supports new dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea regarding President Trump's remarks on scaling back exercises. He replied, "Safeguarding the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and promoting a political settlement of the peninsula issue serve the common interests of all parties."

(Photo: Yonhap News)