Beijing key to resolving NK's nuclear brinkmanship
Since North Korea's fifth nuclear test, Friday, the world is looking to China again as the only country that can thwart the reclusive state's nuclear ambitions.
In a statement released hours after the North's allegedly successful test, China's Foreign Ministry "firmly opposed'' it. The statement also urged Pyongyang to "honor its commitment to denuclearization, comply with the relevant (U.N.) Security Council resolutions and stop taking any actions that worsen the situation.''
Not surprisingly, the statement was not much different from that issued by China every time North Korea has conducted nuclear and missile tests over the last 20 years. That's quite disheartening, considering the North has refined its nuclear and missile capabilities and is on the brink of deploying nuclear weapons.
In March, after a considerable tug-of-war, China agreed to the toughest U.N. sanctions ever that included a ban on exports of North Korean coal. Given that the North has taken a step closer to becoming a de facto nuclear state, the U.N. will take action to hammer out a new round of sanctions.
In fact, the UNSC said it would start discussing new "significant'' measures against Pyongyang. The new sanctions could include slapping a blanket ban on North Korea's export of mineral resources, including coal, and prohibiting Beijing from supplying oil to Pyongyang. The North might also face difficulty in sending workers abroad to obtain hard currency.
But it's highly unlikely that China will give consent to the kind of sanctions that could lead to the collapse of North Korea, although it reluctantly takes part in international discussions to enforce fresh sanctions on the isolationist state.
China, which holds the key to international efforts to frustrate the North's nuclear weapons program, fears possible pandemonium on its border with North Korea in the event of turmoil in the reclusive state amid speculation that millions of North Koreans might enter China. Beijing also feels it increasingly difficult to abandon Pyongyang because of its high strategic value at a time when its hegemonic rivalry with the United States is intensifying.
But the North going nuclear will be no less nightmarish to China. The Middle Kingdom could be confident of being in control of North Korea even after it is virtually armed with nuclear weapons. But given its unpredictability, the North might level a gun at China at any time. A nuclear-armed North might become a poisoned chalice to Beijing if Japan follows in the footsteps of North Korea to go nuclear or South Korea brings back America's tactical nuclear weapons.
All of this requires China to do far more to terminate the North's nuclear program. Specifically, it should actively take part in fresh international moves to slap far harsher sanctions on North Korea.
Of course, this is not to say that sanctions alone can resolve the North's nuclear brinkmanship. There should be international efforts to resolve the gridlock through dialogue, especially led by the United States. But it's definitely China that holds the key to maintaining peace in Northeast Asia amid the escalating nuclear threats from the North.
Since North Korea's fifth nuclear test, Friday, the world is looking to China again as the only country that can thwart the reclusive state's nuclear ambitions.
In a statement released hours after the North's allegedly successful test, China's Foreign Ministry "firmly opposed'' it. The statement also urged Pyongyang to "honor its commitment to denuclearization, comply with the relevant (U.N.) Security Council resolutions and stop taking any actions that worsen the situation.''
Not surprisingly, the statement was not much different from that issued by China every time North Korea has conducted nuclear and missile tests over the last 20 years. That's quite disheartening, considering the North has refined its nuclear and missile capabilities and is on the brink of deploying nuclear weapons.
In March, after a considerable tug-of-war, China agreed to the toughest U.N. sanctions ever that included a ban on exports of North Korean coal. Given that the North has taken a step closer to becoming a de facto nuclear state, the U.N. will take action to hammer out a new round of sanctions.
In fact, the UNSC said it would start discussing new "significant'' measures against Pyongyang. The new sanctions could include slapping a blanket ban on North Korea's export of mineral resources, including coal, and prohibiting Beijing from supplying oil to Pyongyang. The North might also face difficulty in sending workers abroad to obtain hard currency.
But it's highly unlikely that China will give consent to the kind of sanctions that could lead to the collapse of North Korea, although it reluctantly takes part in international discussions to enforce fresh sanctions on the isolationist state.
China, which holds the key to international efforts to frustrate the North's nuclear weapons program, fears possible pandemonium on its border with North Korea in the event of turmoil in the reclusive state amid speculation that millions of North Koreans might enter China. Beijing also feels it increasingly difficult to abandon Pyongyang because of its high strategic value at a time when its hegemonic rivalry with the United States is intensifying.
But the North going nuclear will be no less nightmarish to China. The Middle Kingdom could be confident of being in control of North Korea even after it is virtually armed with nuclear weapons. But given its unpredictability, the North might level a gun at China at any time. A nuclear-armed North might become a poisoned chalice to Beijing if Japan follows in the footsteps of North Korea to go nuclear or South Korea brings back America's tactical nuclear weapons.
All of this requires China to do far more to terminate the North's nuclear program. Specifically, it should actively take part in fresh international moves to slap far harsher sanctions on North Korea.
Of course, this is not to say that sanctions alone can resolve the North's nuclear brinkmanship. There should be international efforts to resolve the gridlock through dialogue, especially led by the United States. But it's definitely China that holds the key to maintaining peace in Northeast Asia amid the escalating nuclear threats from the North.
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