It is hard to expect active Chinese role over NK
President Moon Jae-in wrapped up his four-day state visit to China Saturday. His summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has certainly provided an impetus to mend ties between the two countries, which have been strained over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery in South Korea.
However, President Moon realized how difficult it is to expect China to play a more active role in prodding North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development program. He had planned to ask President Xi to stop China from supplying oil to North Korea. This plan came after Pyongyang test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-15, which is believed to be capable of striking the U.S. mainland, last month.
Following the missile launch, the Donald Trump administration has called for tougher measures against the North, including a total oil embargo. But Beijing has turned a deaf ear to the call. It only reaffirmed it will work within the framework of the U.N. Security Council's sanctions against the North, opposing any country taking separate action against the recalcitrant state.
Regrettably, President Moon could not even mention anything about a potential Chinese oil supply ban on North Korea during his meeting with Xi. This indicated Beijing is not only against the ban but also against discussing such a crucial issue with Seoul. Of course, the Xi government has already made it clear the North Korean nuclear crisis is a matter between Washington and Pyongyang.
In this regard, the summit has dealt a setback to President Moon's policy of taking the initiative in solving the North Korean issue. Right after his inauguration in May, Moon came up with this policy, stressing the South should play a "driver's role" in achieving a nuclear-free peninsula and a peace in Northeast Asia.
No one can deny that his diplomatic initiative has limitations. Seoul has long relied on its ally, the U.S., for its defense and security, while it depends economically on China ― South Korea's largest trading partner. However, liberal President Moon is trying to pursue a "balanced" diplomacy to reduce the excessive reliance on a specific country and have better relations with other stakeholders on the peninsula.
Now, Moon has to admit he failed to pitch his diplomatic initiative during his summit with Xi. He ran the risk of savoring the diplomatic "humiliation" of poor treatment only to prevent a war on the peninsula, amid growing calls among U.S. policymakers for military options against the North.
President Moon might call his summitry "pragmatic diplomacy," given that he and Xi reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the North's nuclear issue. But he should face criticism that such a reaffirmation is nothing but rhetoric without concrete action.
President Moon Jae-in wrapped up his four-day state visit to China Saturday. His summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has certainly provided an impetus to mend ties between the two countries, which have been strained over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery in South Korea.
However, President Moon realized how difficult it is to expect China to play a more active role in prodding North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile development program. He had planned to ask President Xi to stop China from supplying oil to North Korea. This plan came after Pyongyang test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-15, which is believed to be capable of striking the U.S. mainland, last month.
Following the missile launch, the Donald Trump administration has called for tougher measures against the North, including a total oil embargo. But Beijing has turned a deaf ear to the call. It only reaffirmed it will work within the framework of the U.N. Security Council's sanctions against the North, opposing any country taking separate action against the recalcitrant state.
Regrettably, President Moon could not even mention anything about a potential Chinese oil supply ban on North Korea during his meeting with Xi. This indicated Beijing is not only against the ban but also against discussing such a crucial issue with Seoul. Of course, the Xi government has already made it clear the North Korean nuclear crisis is a matter between Washington and Pyongyang.
In this regard, the summit has dealt a setback to President Moon's policy of taking the initiative in solving the North Korean issue. Right after his inauguration in May, Moon came up with this policy, stressing the South should play a "driver's role" in achieving a nuclear-free peninsula and a peace in Northeast Asia.
No one can deny that his diplomatic initiative has limitations. Seoul has long relied on its ally, the U.S., for its defense and security, while it depends economically on China ― South Korea's largest trading partner. However, liberal President Moon is trying to pursue a "balanced" diplomacy to reduce the excessive reliance on a specific country and have better relations with other stakeholders on the peninsula.
Now, Moon has to admit he failed to pitch his diplomatic initiative during his summit with Xi. He ran the risk of savoring the diplomatic "humiliation" of poor treatment only to prevent a war on the peninsula, amid growing calls among U.S. policymakers for military options against the North.
President Moon might call his summitry "pragmatic diplomacy," given that he and Xi reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the North's nuclear issue. But he should face criticism that such a reaffirmation is nothing but rhetoric without concrete action.
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