Ex-PLA General: China Won't Save North Korea - Politics Forum.org | PoFo

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#14494737
China 'can't save' N. Korea even if it collapses: ex-general
Yonhap News
2014/12/02 17:05

BEIJING, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- China would not help save North Korea even if the neighboring North's regime collapses, a former general of China's military said Tuesday, in rare explicit comments that possibly reflect Beijing's growing frustration with its unpredictable ally.

"China is not a savior," Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of the Nanjing military region of the People's Liberation Army, wrote in an op-ed published by the Global Times newspaper, which has close ties with China's ruling Communist Party.

"If North Korea really collapses, even China can't save it," Wang said.

The comments by Wang were in response to a recent contribution by another Chinese expert, who urged Beijing not to "abandon" North Korea.

North Korea is China's only formal treaty ally, but a series of provocations by the North, including last year's third nuclear test, have strained political ties between the two nations.

The alliance between North Korea and China, forged by blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, appears to be wearing thin.

Still, many analysts believe that Beijing will not put strong pressure on Pyongyang due to the risk of aggravating the current situation.

In the Chinese-language op-ed piece posted on the newspaper's website, Wang indicated that China may not step in if a war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula.

"China has no need to get burned," Wang said. "Whoever provokes a war bears responsibility. It is not necessary for China's young generation to fight for another country."

kdh@yna.co.kr


China will not go to war for N. Korea, former general says
AFP-JIJI
Dec 2, 2014

BEIJING – China will not step in to save neighboring North Korea if the Pyongyang regime collapses or initiates conflict with its opponents, a retired People’s Liberation Army general has said, apparently underscoring a perceived weariness in Beijing with its wayward, nuclear-armed ally.

“China is not a savior,” wrote Wang Hongguang, formerly deputy commander of the Nanjing military region, in a online commentary for the Global Times newspaper. The organ is considered to represent the views of the China Communist Party.

“Should North Korea really collapse, not even China can save it,” he said.

Wang’s comments came in a contribution to the nationalist tabloid’s Chinese-language website.

The outspoken Wang has made critical comments about North Korea before and it was not clear whether his words indicated a policy shift on Pyongyang.

China has long been the isolated North’s key ally and aid provider.

Beijing aided it during the 1950-53 Korean War, intervening against U.S.-led United Nations forces defending South Korea and helping to seal a stalemate that persists today.

China’s role has grown as the North’s economy has shrunk in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union almost a quarter of a century ago, with which Pyongyang had close trade and aid ties.

But over the same period Beijing has moved to develop diplomatic relations and booming trade ties with Seoul, Pyongyang’s bitter rival. Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-hye have exchanged visits, while Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have so far kept their distance.

Wang said China would not get involved in a new war on the Korean peninsula.

“China cannot influence the situation on the Korean peninsula,” he wrote.

“China has no need to light a fire and get burned,” he added. “Whoever provokes a conflagration bears responsibility.

“Now there is no more ‘socialist camp.’ It is not necessary for China’s younger generation to fight a war for another country,” he wrote in the comments, published Monday.

Wang criticized the North for its nuclear development, using it as an example of how its interests can differ from China’s and saying it had “already brought about the serious threat of nuclear contamination in China’s border area.”

But he also slammed Western countries for what he described as “demonizing” North Korea and interfering in its internal affairs in the name of human rights.

“China absolutely does not meddle,” he wrote.

Beijing will “support what should be supported and oppose what should be opposed” regarding the North, he said, indicating China was not ready to completely give up on its troublesome neighbour.

China will neither “court” nor “abandon” North Korea, he wrote. “This should be China’s basic attitude.”

The first article says that China "can't" save North Korea.
Even if the Chinese could save North Korea though, they may not want to. Chinese-North Korean relations certainly aren't as close as they used to be.

Even though North Korea never officially broke neutrality in the Sino-Soviet rivalry, relations have definitely been strained since Deng Xiaoping's regime. It seems the PRC has ever since then kind of rebranded their image from solid ally of the DPRK to wipe the "imperialist puppet" ROK off of the map to some kind of neutral arbiter between the two Koreas. Thus actually extending Chinese influence over the whole peninsula (or so Beijing hopes I imagine). Also South Korea's perceived reluctance to fully embrace American anti-Chinese military policies may be seen by Beijing as a means of avoiding American efforts to completely isolate them. Mind you, it's not like the ROK is "switching sides" although hawkish American netizens may claim so. But at least Seoul is debating what Washington wants them to do instead of automatically following such requests.

In return, Seoul benefits by wooing away a nation that was once the DPRK's major backer, greatly isolating Pyongyang. Especially as ongoing profitable trade strengthens the notion that ties with the ROK is far more beneficial to "market socialism with Chinese characteristics" than the Jucheist state. If they play their cards right the South Koreans might even develop a new role as peacemaker by helping maintain good ties between the US and China. They'll pretty much have to anyway if they develop strong ties with both nations.

If the Korean War heats up again I think whether or not China repeats history depends on how Round 2 begins. If the US becomes hawkish and the ROK re-adopts a staunch pro-American foreign policy and they're the ones who start it, the Chinese may feel threatened and conclude that North Korea is still useful after all as a buffer against "US imperialist aggression". But if things are pretty much as they are and it's the DPRK who starts it, the Chinese may conclude instead that North Korea's an unstable neighbor who brings chaos to their doorstep and they'll gladly let them hang out to dry.

Even if American jingoist claims that "ungrateful treacherous" Seoul has become Beijing's "useful idiots" are true, that just underscores the fact that Beijing would be pretty pissed off if the "useful idiots" in Seoul were attacked by batshit crazy idiots in Pyongyang.
#14494828
The South China Morning Post is the original source of the interview with the prominent Chinese military figure. As was the case with other articles published by the Chinese newspaper, there are elements of state-sponsored propaganda and we cannot completely trust what this official said of China's stance on North Korea. North Korea is still strategically important for China and Russia, which has been bolstering ties with North Korea, and China will come to Pyongyang's rescue if a war breaks out with South Korea. It has been the CCP's diplomatic ploy to undermine its Communist nature so that it can assure the international community that China does not pose any threats anymore after the end of the Cold War. The official denied the presence of a socialist camp in East Asia but it's highly likely for Beijing to stand up for its Communist ally no matter what happens in the near future and China now can afford to prop up the Kim regime economically.

[youtube]KpyVENBPj5c[/youtube]

The most closed country on earth — North Korea — is now denying its involvement in one of the biggest corporate hacks in history. Someone attacked Sony Pictures Entertainment last week and made public troves of stolen data, including five unreleased films, medical records and salaries of nearly 7,000 global employees. But before a recent denial — another North Korean diplomat played coy about the country's involvement. That North Korea could be capable of a sophisticated hack may seem counterintuitive, since the nation known as the Hermit Kingdom is so cut off from the rest of the world. But North Korea watchers say its cyber-espionage skills are actually quite developed. This recent tussle began when Kim Jong Un — the dictator of North Korea — wasn't pleased about an upcoming Hollywood movie. Kim is going to be featured in The Interview, a slapstick comedy starring famous goofballs Seth Rogen and James Franco opening Christmas day.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconside ... ng-mystery
#14494861
There is indeed no "socialist camp". China may still be a dictatorship, but the "Communist" in the name of its ruling party is as bogus as the "Democratic People's" are in North Korea's official name.
Continued capitalist prosperity remains a priority for Beijing and ties with Seoul contributes more to that than those with Pyongyang. The ROK is China's third largest foreign trading partner, exceeded only by Japan and the US. But Seoul is somewhat more willing to talk to Beijing than Tokyo and Washington are. In comparison the DPRK is China's 82nd largest trading partner and takes up at least half of all foreign aid that Beijing gives out.

Whatever solid value the charity case that is North Korea still has to China is as a buffer against possible "US aggression" but only if said buffer stays quiet and limits itself to a defensive role. A "buffer zone" that initiates armed hostilities isn't a "buffer", it's a liability.

Again, whether or not China once again rides to North Korea's rescue depends entirely on how the war (re)starts.
#14494866
Couldn't have said it better Gletkin. We don't have any more beef with South Koreans except for the occasional "who invented that shit". The thing I like about South Koreans is that they don't point fingers at China or support proxy opposition groups every chance they get, unlike the horde of US lapdogs.

I don't think we need a buffer zone anymore, let alone one like North Korea. And you know what would be great? A direct and safe high speed train route into Seoul. Imagine that.
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