Trump's 301 probe against China is bid to divert attention from him

THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE expressed strong discontent on Monday with the United States' initiation of a Section 301 investigation into so-called Chinese intellectual property theft, pledging China will take all measures necessary to defend its lawful interests. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Tuesday:

The investigation has raised deep concerns that it might sabotage China-US trade ties, as the domestic statute invoked represents an obsolete, unilateral approach to bilateral trade issues. By pressing ahead with this course of action, which is essentially symbolic, the Trump administration apparently has more than just the investigation in mind.

In the face of mounting pressures at home and abroad, from the criticism of his response to the Charlottesville unrest to the nuclear ambitions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, President Trump has felt the urge to distract public attention. China, not surprisingly, is in his cross hairs.