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yun, senior advisor of the actions, but, on the other, is China Institute for Internawary of American strategic intional Strategic Studies, and tentions behind its continued published in late January on military buildup in the Pa81.cn, the news portal opercific. The result is that China ated by the PLA. sees no advantage in joining Attributing responsibility the US and South Korea in for the recent escalation in taking decisive action against regional tensions to North Pyongyang. Korea, South Korea and the If the Kim regime were to US, which, Wang stated, “recollapse, China would not fuse to return to the Six-party only face a probable flood of Tourists at South Korea’s Imjingak resort in Paju-si city, close to the DMZ, Talks and provoke each other North Korean refugees across March 18, 2016 with unwise movements,” its northeastern border, but Wang wrote that “China is would also lose a strategic under the threat of turmoil buffer zone, potentially placand war on its doorstep and ing forces friendly to the US must take strong countermeasures.” on its doorstep. troops and more than 300,000 South KoreCriticizing almost all other concerned parIn an interview with Hong Kong-based ans, and with drills featuring “beheading opmagazine Zijing, Qiao Liang, a major general erations,” “high-density strikes” and a mock ties, including North Korea, South Korea, in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), invasion of Pyongyang, this year’s program is the US and Japan, for their roles in the crisis, admitted that, on the North Korean issue, believed to be the largest-scale series of mili- the article went on to urge China to “make “China’s hands are tied.” According to Qiao, tary exercises held by the two sides since the military preparations so as to respond to any possible war on the Korean Peninsula.” the real problem with the Korean nuclear end of the Korean War. “China should adjust its military deploycrisis is the US refusal to consider providing In response, North Korean leader Kim security assurances to North Korea, as such Jong-un ordered the North Korean military ment along its northeastern border and in assurances would illegitimize much of Wash- to be in “preemptive attack” mode and “be its territorial waters as early as possible, and ington’s military presence in northeastern ready to use its nuclear weapons at any time,” make military and diplomatic preparations to respond to various possible hazards,” it Asia. according to its state media. continued. “The key to the North Korea nuclear issue It had been previously reported that China Self-Centered now lies in US hands. What China can do is had deployed several thousand additional Challenged by escalating tension and an to promote dialog,” said Qiao. unprecedented scenario in which it has seen troops along its border with North Korea folQiao’s view appears to largely reflect the ofits relationships with North Korea, South lowing Pyongyang’s fourth and latest nuclear ficial stance of China’s leadership. Amid neKorea and the US are deteriorating simultest. gotiations on further UN sanctions against On March 8, when asked at a press conferNorth Korea, Chinese diplomats pushed for taneously, China has seemingly tweaked its rhetoric regarding the Korean nuclear crisis. ence whether China would provide military a “parallel track approach” as a “fundamental Instead of repeating its longstanding overaid to North Korea in the event of another solution,” meaning to simultaneously discuss all principles on the Korean Peninsula isKorean War, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula sue, namely denuclearization, stability and Yi chose to remain evasive. “We would like to and replacing the Korean armistice with a dialog, China has begun to demonstrate an offer aid and support if North Korea seeks permanent peace agreement. (The 1950-53 development and security, but we would not increasingly inward-looking stance, reiteratKorean War ended with a cease fire rather tolerate it if North Korea sought to advance ing its bottom line that China will not allow than a peace treaty). its nuclear program,” he said. “turmoil and wars on its doorstep” without But so far, the US and South Korea have As almost all parties involved in the Koexplicitly naming potential threats or giving shown no interest in a proposal which largely rean crisis are further entrenching themselves any hint as to what Beijing’s reaction to such echoes the longstanding demands of North in their respective positions, China will face a situation might be. Korea. On March 7, the US and South Korea some difficult choices as the situation appears This new perspective was summarized in launched extensive war games in an annual set to become even more volatile. a commentary piece written by Wang Haishow of force. Involving 17,000 American
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NEWSCHINA I May 2016