North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is at it again, with America-baiting rhetoric, long-range missile launches and yet another nuclear test. An irritated U.S. President Barack Obama cited the serial “provocations” in his State of the Union address this week. But for all the Hermit Kingdom’s flouting of United Nations orders to abandon its weapons programs, it poses no great threat to the United States, for now.
Ironically, Kim’s military ambitions are far more problematic for his friends, including China’s incoming president Xi Jinping who takes over from Hu Jintao next month. Prior to the latest nuclear blast on Tuesday, Beijing had openly urged Kim to avoid escalating tensions. His belligerent answer came in the 6-kiloton range by some estimates, rattling nerves in Beijing and stirring anger. “The nuclear test will gravely damage China’s strategic and security interests,” Beijing University professor Wang Dong told Reuters.
The UN Security Council promptly voted — with China’s support — to condemn Pyongyang. But as the Americans and others now press for harsher sanctions, China’s leaders face a moment of truth.
Kim’s relentless push for nuclear weapons threatens China’s security by creating a level of anxiety that can only further militarize the region. South Korea is withdrawing the olive branch it extended to Kim; the Japanese are hiking their military spending. These dangers ought to outweigh China’s concern that sanctions might destabilize Kim’s regime, causing it to implode.
Granted, Beijing doesn’t want an America-friendly united Korea on its border. But nor will China’s interests be served if Obama orders a major buildup of American naval power in the region to counter Pyongyang’s bellicosity. Or if South Korea and Japan crank up their own defences, including additional measures against missile. Worse still, if North Korea does arm itself with nukes, others may do the same.
As China’s new president prepares to take over, the time is right to tell Kim to heed the Security Council’s demand that he give up his nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees, normal relations and generous aid, or face far more serious consequences than in the past. As North Korea’s only major foreign trade partner, China supplies food, arms, fuel, jobs, consumer goods, investment and aid. It has powerful levers at its disposal. It also has everything to gain from a stable neighbourhood.
No one can win an Asian arms race. It’s time to draw the line.
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Editorial
Ironically, Kim’s military ambitions are far more problematic for his friends, including China’s incoming president Xi Jinping who takes over from Hu Jintao next month. Prior to the latest nuclear blast on Tuesday, Beijing had openly urged Kim to avoid escalating tensions. His belligerent answer came in the 6-kiloton range by some estimates, rattling nerves in Beijing and stirring anger. “The nuclear test will gravely damage China’s strategic and security interests,” Beijing University professor Wang Dong told Reuters.
The UN Security Council promptly voted — with China’s support — to condemn Pyongyang. But as the Americans and others now press for harsher sanctions, China’s leaders face a moment of truth.
Kim’s relentless push for nuclear weapons threatens China’s security by creating a level of anxiety that can only further militarize the region. South Korea is withdrawing the olive branch it extended to Kim; the Japanese are hiking their military spending. These dangers ought to outweigh China’s concern that sanctions might destabilize Kim’s regime, causing it to implode.
Granted, Beijing doesn’t want an America-friendly united Korea on its border. But nor will China’s interests be served if Obama orders a major buildup of American naval power in the region to counter Pyongyang’s bellicosity. Or if South Korea and Japan crank up their own defences, including additional measures against missile. Worse still, if North Korea does arm itself with nukes, others may do the same.
As China’s new president prepares to take over, the time is right to tell Kim to heed the Security Council’s demand that he give up his nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees, normal relations and generous aid, or face far more serious consequences than in the past. As North Korea’s only major foreign trade partner, China supplies food, arms, fuel, jobs, consumer goods, investment and aid. It has powerful levers at its disposal. It also has everything to gain from a stable neighbourhood.
No one can win an Asian arms race. It’s time to draw the line.
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Editorial
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