Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe electoral reality that the media ignores Kelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks MORE (R-Ariz.) says that China is not helping ease tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.

“Frankly, over the years we’ve seen nothing from China,” he said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.” “They’ve propped up North Korea. They could shut down their economy in a week or two if they wanted to.”

McCain added that China must realize that the U.S. cannot accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.

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“I think we have to make it clear to China that there will be penalties in our relationship with China unless they do the right thing,” he said.

“China has got to understand that the United States of America cannot live with a situation where North Korea has this kind of capabilities.”

McCain’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.

Reports emerged Tuesday that the U.S. is moving parts of its THAAD missile defense system into South Korea.

China has warned against installing the system, arguing that it is unlikely to deter North Korea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Trump during a Monday phone call his nation favors U.S. “restraint” in dealing with Pyongyang.

“Xi noted that if the parties shoulder their due responsibilities and meet each other halfway, they can solve the nuclear issue of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula,” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said.