By Well so much for any claims that China is going to punish North Korea with real sanctions:
China is apparently poised to give substantial economic aid to North Korea when Premier Wen Jiabao visits the impoverished country on Oct. 4-6.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters Tuesday that several agreements will be signed with North Korea in areas including economy, trade, education and tourism. She made the remarks in reply to a question whether Wen plans to conclude a cooperation agreement on food and energy with North Korea.
“China has been providing assistance to [North Korea] within our capacity to improve their people’s lives and help them develop their economy.”
On Sept. 16, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, an envoy for President Hu Jintao, visited North Korea and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. His delegation included Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying, suggesting that economic cooperation was also on the agenda. [Chosun Ilbo]
I keep hearing commentators over and over again claim China is the key and that the US needs to get China to implement tough sanctions on North Korea. Give me one good reason right now why China would implement real sanctions on North Korea? How is that in their interest right now? What incentive do they have to do so?
One Free Korea actually discussed this subject last week and this latest report only further confirms that China has no interest in sanctioning North Korea.
1:42 am on September 30th, 2009 1
If you have been following the Iran nuclear fiasco, it is starting to eerily resemble the North Korea one.
While Washington is deciding to conjure up new sanctions against Iran with the help of the Chinese and the Russians, Iran is entering talks with SIX world powers over its nuclear program this week.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to flex its muscles via missile tests and deny such a nuclear program.
Anyone smell Six-party talks 2.0: Iran?
Looks like Iran may start being rewarded for bad behavior.
1:46 am on September 30th, 2009 2
"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters Tuesday that several agreements will be signed with North Korea in areas including economy, trade, education and tourism."
Playing on South Koreans' fears so their government signs whatever one-sided deal North Korea puts on the table next time they meet?
1:50 am on September 30th, 2009 3
As for commenting on this particular article, China would never support real sanctions against the DPRK. It's in their interest to keep Korea divided and weak and maintain pressure on the U.S. China already has enough neighbors that cause problems. A unified Korea alongside Japan, both U.S. allies, would be extremely worrisome for Beijing.
And to clarify my previous comment, while the U.S. is pushing sanctions against Iran, China, similar to the North Korea situation, wants to slow down any talk of sanctions against Iran.
12:02 pm on September 30th, 2009 4
Could be a feeling of being betrayed on the part of the current US administration. Unilateral talks?
China may be playing NKs game as well. It would be to their advantage with nothing to lose.
Perhaps a few concessions from the US on tarrifs on "tires" would solve the problem.
8:54 pm on September 30th, 2009 5
"It’s in their interest to keep Korea divided and weak and maintain pressure on the U.S."
Well, that's assuming that a unified Korea would be a strong one. Keeping a buffer between the USFK and its border is ample reason for China to do all it can to ensure that North Korea doesn't collapse.
8:57 pm on September 30th, 2009 6
China has a love/hate relationship with the world, and the country will try to befriend the major powers in order to become a super power itself. Already, it is gaining status to the point that even the major powers are careful not to provoke this waking giant. China will still do what's best for its own interests, of course, and if North Korea calls for business, they will not reject it so long as it's to their advantage. Have you read Asia Chronicle News? They provide a lot of in-depth commentaries and analyses on issues facing China and North Korea as well. Worth a read I think. http://www.asiachroniclenews.com