China needs ‘Plan B’ for N. Korea conflict

• Source: The Global Times
• [07:44 May 31 2009]
• Comments

China under pressure

However, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates insisted that will not happen. “The policy of the US has not changed. Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and we will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state,” Gates said at the Asian security summit in Singapore yesterday.

Reiterating the US’ commitment to defending its Asian partners from attack, he said any transfer of nuclear weapons and materials by Pyongyang to other countries or “non-state entities” would invite the swiftest and most forceful US response. The Los Angeles Times described Gates’ remarks as “the most explicit US line on North Korea.”

Following the warning, the US, Japan and South Korea agreed on a “common response” to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests, while analysts say any consensus the three partners achieve will require support from China.

Moscow and Tokyo also agreed that the North Korean nuclear tests merit a strong response and threaten international security, a Kremlin source said.

Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, also attending the three-day summit, said yesterday that China understands the concerns and worries of the international community regarding North Korea. “Our view is that the Korean peninsula should move toward denuclearization,” he said.

Sun argued, however, that this is a hard-to-achieve objective. “The US and North Korea are the main players in the ongoing crisis, while China is only an awkward middleman. China has no obligation to lead the sanctions,” Sun said.

Sun also suggested that China be bold and press North Korea to protect China’s interests. “China can work on the international, bilateral and domestic fronts, with the use of different foreign policies, in order to deal with any future crisis.”

Yonhap also reported Friday that Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People's Congress (NPC), had canceled her scheduled North Korea visit.

Sun considered the move a sign of change but added that there is no real policy shift from China yet, despite fierce debate among scholars.

Cong Mu also contributed to this story