http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9991907/China-breaking-UN-sanctions-to-support-North-Korea.html
This article discusses a recent choice made by Chinese politicians to engage in brinksmanship. China funnels billions of pounds of foreign currency to North Korea through Dandong, a sketchy border city between the two nations. While some of the financial operations have stopped, recent reports suggest that a significant number of government-sponsored operators are still transferring money from Dandong to Pyongyang. This action suggests that despite UN sanctions, China remains very supportive of the North Korean regime and facilitates numerous illegal transfers of goods and services. When push comes to shove, I hope China will make the right decision and not sacrifice world stability for a dangerous authoritarian nation.
This article discusses a recent choice made by Chinese politicians to engage in brinksmanship. China funnels billions of pounds of foreign currency to North Korea through Dandong, a sketchy border city between the two nations. While some of the financial operations have stopped, recent reports suggest that a significant number of government-sponsored operators are still transferring money from Dandong to Pyongyang. This action suggests that despite UN sanctions, China remains very supportive of the North Korean regime and facilitates numerous illegal transfers of goods and services. When push comes to shove, I hope China will make the right decision and not sacrifice world stability for a dangerous authoritarian nation.
4 comments:
It seems to me that China is doing their best to gain "military" support to increase the power not only in East Asia and South China Sea but also in the world. It is interesting to see how China will respond to this, and whatever the response is, it will bring a big difference to the situation in the area.
Just this weekend I read that John Kerry met with the Chinese President, Foreign minister, and other top diplomats to discuss recent tensions with North Korea. A statement was released after the meeting that both parties agreed to work together on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. They are set to begin work on a peaceful plan to accomplish this.
While this doesn't address the shady practices the article brought up I think it is a step in the right direction towards a more stable and peaceful region. I hope that China is sincere with this commitment.
You can read more about the issue here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22131316
In the lecture by John Ikenberry last week about the rise of China, this issue was addressed. He said that the economic ties between China and North Korea aren't actually that important to China; their trade with North Korea only accounts for 1% of their overall trade, while their trade with South Korea (whose economy is actually growing) is significantly greater. The reason for Chinese support of North Korea (if it's strong enough to even be called support) is that China does not want North Korea to fall, because it will trigger the rise of a US-supported, larger South Korea and will cause a huge influx of immigrants into China which would be costly for the economy.
Nice article. It had always been very clear and known that China transfers not only money, but also technology and food to North Korea. However, China's patience and tolerance for N. Korea's nuclear program must surely be running out.
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