Category: China

Despite ups and downs, the China-US relationship has largely been improving: http://t.co/1gj2WpZmot pic.twitter.com/61AMQzeJY9

— China US Focus (@ChinaUSFocus) October 2, 2015

https://twitter.com/freekorea_us/status/649411361383038976

Remember China's Announced 300,000 Troop Cut? Not Everyone's Happy About It http://t.co/5CVcb5cr4u pic.twitter.com/sEXGrYIaRG

— The Diplomat (@Diplomat_APAC) September 28, 2015

Members of the Washington-based North Korea Freedom Coalition, including its head Suzanne Scholte (2nd from R), rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015, to urge China not to deport North Korean defectors. (Yonhap)

These are just words on the part of the Chinese leader which are important, but I am more interested to see what action they would take in response to the next North Korean provocation:

In an apparent warning to North Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday he opposes any action that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions as he and President Barack Obama reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Xi made the remark during a joint press conference after summit talks with Obama at the White House as concerns have grown that North Korea could launch a long-range rocket or conduct a nuclear test next month in violation of U.N. resolutions.

“We reaffirm our commitment to realize the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way and we oppose any action that might cause tension in the Korean peninsula or violate U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Xi said.

Xi did not mention North Korea by name, but it was pretty clear that he was referring to Pyongyang.

It is highly unusual for a Chinese leader to publicly issue such a warning, given that Beijing has been reluctant to criticize North Korea and has usually urged all sides to exercise calm and restraint when it comes to tensions on the Korean Peninsula.”

Xi also said that a 2005 agreement on North Korea’s denuclearizations and U.N. resolutions should be “implemented in full and all relevant parties should work together to firmly advance the denuclearization process of the Korean peninsula and maintain peace and stability so as to achieve enduring peace and stability in Northeast Asia.”  [Yonhap]

You can read the rest at the link.

We assessed improvements in #China's ability to challenge U.S. air ops by attacking air bases: http://t.co/9IgspN2Bx9 pic.twitter.com/ky3fkoJVkO

— RAND (@RANDCorporation) September 19, 2015

China probably is not being invited to this big North Korean anniversary because of the criticism their government has given towards the prospect of a North Korean nuclear test or rocket launch next month:

China is not among nations invited to attend North Korea’s key national anniversary next month, a diplomatic source said Monday, reflecting strained political ties between the allies.

North Korea has indicated that it may launch a long-range rocket on or around Oct. 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its Workers’ Party. Any launch will spark international condemnation as a disguised ballistic missile test, which is banned under U.N. resolutions.

North Korea sent invitations to some nations in Africa and South America, but China, the North’s economic lifeline and diplomatic backer, has not been invited to attend the Oct. 10 ceremony, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

“To my knowledge, China has not been invited to take part in the Oct. 10 ceremony,” the source said.   [Yonhap]

You can read the rest at the link.

The Chinese may act angrily and say all the right things to the international community, but the Kim regime is counting on that they won’t do anything that would threaten to destabilize the regime.  This is because the Chinese likely fear a collapsed North Korean state more than they do the backlash from North Korean provocations:

If North Korea launches a rocket into space or conducts a nuclear test in the coming weeks, as observers suspect it may, China is certain to respond angrily, and perhaps with an unprecedented level of economic punishment. The question is whether North Korea can be swayed even by its most important ally.  (…………………)

China’s response to North Korea’s last declared nuclear test, in the spring of 2013, was considered something of a watershed in degree of harshness. China swiftly joined the international community in condemning the action, called in the North Korean ambassador to protest, and, according to some indications, slowed the flow of goods across their border.

A new nuclear test or rocket firing could lead China to enforce existing and future sanctions more vigorously.

“China will strongly oppose (a test or launch) and will be sure to implement future United Nations resolutions even more resolutely,” said Zhang Liangui, a North Korea expert with the ruling Communist Party’s main research and training institute in Beijing.

China may also take unilateral steps such as cutting back on cross-border trade, Chinese experts say. Such measures could target the industrial commodities and luxury goods Kim needs to keep the moribund North Korean economy ticking over and ensure the loyalty of regime supporters.  [Associated Press]

You can read the rest at the link.

It looks like the US and its allies should open a new front with the South China Sea issue and get the name of this body of water officially changed just like the South Koreans have been trying to do for years with the Sea of Japan:

In a rare appearance together, American and Chinese admirals sat alongside one another to present their views on maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. The audience came to hear about one thing, the South China Sea, and China’s commander was clear: “It belongs to China.”

There was political theater and a few one-liners, as the panel remained cordial and the admirals were all smiles during handshakes before and after. But the tension was real and the messages direct.

“The South China Sea, as the name indicated, is a sea area. It belongs to China,” said Vice Adm. Yuan Yubai, who commands the North Sea Fleet for the People’s Liberation Army Navy.  [Defense One]

You can read the whole thing at the link, but what I found most fascinating about the article was how direct these admirals were talking to each other about the issues in the South China Sea.

After a disastrous debut, China's high speed rail is expanding fast and winning converts at home and abroad. http://t.co/E9JpB3u55A

— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) September 11, 2015