China-DPRK: Pomfret on the ball again
http://theutopian.net/
Few observers come close to matching John Pomfret’s insight when it comes to China matters. His latest offering, Why China won’t do more with North Korea, is no exception:
Reading all the stuff about North Korea’s nukes, one thing strikes me: the United States seems to want to outsource not just its jobs to China, but also its diplomacy. “It’s up to China!” and “China can do more!” are the operative phrases emerging from DC-think-tanks and the US government. As if….
First, there’s a silly assumption in Washington that our interests (no nukes in North Korea) are the same as China’s. But they’re not. China’s first interest in North Korea is making sure the Kim regime doesn’t collapse. China’s second interest? Making sure the Kim regime doesn’t collapse. From Beijing’s perspective, nukes in North Korea rank somewhere around 10th.
The article goes on to outline the reasons why China will almost certainly rebuff calls for a greater effort on her part to get tough with Kim Jong Il’s misguided madness. It boils down to this: China likes her backward, despotic neighbour just the way it is, nukes and all.
The only other reason I would be tempted to add to Pomfret’s list is that China takes delight in her strategy of doing nothing (or paying lip service to doing something) when by so acting she leaves the US frustrated and hamstrung in its attempts to orchestrate change. This not to mention the glee in Beijing when their global rivals have to spend so much time, effort, and resources cleaning up in China’s own backyard.
Globally responsible stakeholder? No. Not yet. Not by a long way.