Among the academics, the latest volley came from historian Tao Duanfang, who claimed: "If North Korea provides the cause for war by breaking the Armistice Treaty, China has no obligation to interfere in that war." Jia Qingguo, assistant dean of the Beijing University Graduate School of International Relations, said: "China's attitude toward North Korea is entirely up to how North Korea acts . . . As to North Korea's nuclear program, China has always followed the principles of denuclearization, peace and stability, and resolution through dialog. If North Korea does not act properly as to the nuclear issue, China has no choice but to follow the decisions of the international community."
Even better, the criticisms of North Korea are trickling from the very bedrock of China-North Korea alliance: the People's Liberation Army of China. Admiral Yin Zhuo, who is attending the National People's Congress in Beijing, said: "We [China] do not have a military alliance with North Korea. The North Korea-China relationship is not the same as the U.S.-South Korea-China relationship. China has no military stationed in North Korea, nor does China direct North Korea's army. It is false to claim that China must not sit tight and not interfere with the North Korean issue, just because China and North Korea are geographically close." General Mao Xinyu, grandson of Mao Zedong (!), also said: "the Chinese people wish for denuclearized North Korea."
It is important not to over-emphasize these instances. After all, these are only words at this point. But they may be signs of things to come.
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China's "three branches" are not going to ditch North Korea anytime soon. Chinese leaders in the Communist party, the State Council, and PLA are too invested in North Korea. The good news is, that foreigners know more about this because elites fight more of their battles in print now than they did before. Just wait, and you will be able to read an opposing view. It's a political horse race by means of editorials.
ReplyDeleteStuff like this makes me wonder: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/03/11/2013031101105.html (article describes how China watered down post-3rd nuclear test sanctions to protect money from top leaders of the NK regime).
ReplyDeleteTK, do you want NK to denuclearize? There's less chance of a reunification then.
ReplyDeleteMao Xinyu has no practical military experience, is largely incompetent, and has lived off his grandfather's legacy for his entire career. He is not a respected figure in public or in the institutions he works for, and wields little influence. Interestingly, though, his uncle (Mao's only competent son) was killed in the Korean War.
ReplyDeleteChina's new number-three man, Chairman of the NPCSC as of two days ago, Zhang Dejiang, speaks fluent Korean, studied at Kim Il-Sung University (with a degree in economics, no less), and apparently still holds close ties to North Korea. He will probably be the most influential figure on China's North Korea policy over the next five years, so keep an eye out for him.