China and Japan favour a Korean status quo
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Published: November 30 2010 01:49 | Last updated: November 30 2010 01:49
From Prof Chin-Tai Kim and Prof Yeomin Yoon.
Sir, After reading the usual, run-of-the-mill, politically correct analysis exemplified by Zbigniew Brzezinski (“America’s and China’s first big test”, Comment, November 24) and Robert Kaplan (“Attacks that may signal a Pyongyang implosion”, Comment, November 24), it is refreshing to read David Archer’s insightful analysis (Letters, November 25). We also feel that Mr Archer’s analysis should be reinforced by an honest exposure of the positions of the two Koreas’ powerful neighbours, China and Japan.
Plainly said, China wants North Korea to become increasingly dependent on it and wants to be perceived to be the only nation with the power to persuade the latter. To reinforce this perception, China also wants North Korea to act up occasionally. It appears that “We want North Korea to behave and we are doing our best to persuade it but we can’t force a sovereign nation what to do” is China’s convenient and disingenuous excuse for inaction whenever the Kim Jong-il regime misbehaves.
China’s worst fear is a unified Korea allied with the US and Japan. Since China cannot have the two Koreas unite on its terms, it likes their continuous division. Notwithstanding its diplomatic protestations, China doesn’t seem to want bona fide peace in the Korean peninsula; the current situation approximates the ideal.
Japan is an ambivalent observer. Intent to strengthen its military power, Japan finds a rationale for doing so in the North Korean threat though Japan’s prior concern is countering the growing aggressiveness of China. Japan also wants South Korea to become more dependent on it for defence and diplomatic support. Nobody, including the US which is bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, is able to whip the nuclear-powered North Korea.
In the final (and sad) analysis, despite an improbable contingency of “a sudden implosion” of the North Korean regime as alluded to by Mr Kaplan, the world seems to have no choice but to live, for some years to come, with a regime that has no rationale for its own people or the peace-loving world, as well as with what Dr Brzezinski calls North Korea’s frequent bouts of “insanity” and China’s usual “under-reaction”.
Opinions. Fire away
From Prof Chin-Tai Kim and Prof Yeomin Yoon.
Sir, After reading the usual, run-of-the-mill, politically correct analysis exemplified by Zbigniew Brzezinski (“America’s and China’s first big test”, Comment, November 24) and Robert Kaplan (“Attacks that may signal a Pyongyang implosion”, Comment, November 24), it is refreshing to read David Archer’s insightful analysis (Letters, November 25). We also feel that Mr Archer’s analysis should be reinforced by an honest exposure of the positions of the two Koreas’ powerful neighbours, China and Japan.
Plainly said, China wants North Korea to become increasingly dependent on it and wants to be perceived to be the only nation with the power to persuade the latter. To reinforce this perception, China also wants North Korea to act up occasionally. It appears that “We want North Korea to behave and we are doing our best to persuade it but we can’t force a sovereign nation what to do” is China’s convenient and disingenuous excuse for inaction whenever the Kim Jong-il regime misbehaves.
China’s worst fear is a unified Korea allied with the US and Japan. Since China cannot have the two Koreas unite on its terms, it likes their continuous division. Notwithstanding its diplomatic protestations, China doesn’t seem to want bona fide peace in the Korean peninsula; the current situation approximates the ideal.
Japan is an ambivalent observer. Intent to strengthen its military power, Japan finds a rationale for doing so in the North Korean threat though Japan’s prior concern is countering the growing aggressiveness of China. Japan also wants South Korea to become more dependent on it for defence and diplomatic support. Nobody, including the US which is bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, is able to whip the nuclear-powered North Korea.
In the final (and sad) analysis, despite an improbable contingency of “a sudden implosion” of the North Korean regime as alluded to by Mr Kaplan, the world seems to have no choice but to live, for some years to come, with a regime that has no rationale for its own people or the peace-loving world, as well as with what Dr Brzezinski calls North Korea’s frequent bouts of “insanity” and China’s usual “under-reaction”.
Opinions. Fire away
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I don't blame North Korea for their absolutely insane acts of diplomacy. Every country in the world save for china wants them to disappear - and even then China only wants them as a puppet state. It is no wonder they run their country like a diabolical corporation bent on killing superman.
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Xil
Norse God of Sawdust
That was a fantastic read. My opinion is with the Professor.
There are only so many things we can do as is... And I don't think we should do any of them unless there is no longer another option but to.
There are only so many things we can do as is... And I don't think we should do any of them unless there is no longer another option but to.