The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Beijing Coddles Pyongyang

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The Chinese governments seems to think that the proper response to North Korea's attack on Yeonpyeong is to restart the six-party talks and attempt to appease Pyongyang; to its credit, the Obama administration disagrees. Canadian commentator Matt Gurney fumes:

Such nonsense has long been the Chinese response to any act, no matter how reckless, from its small, unpredictable ally. The Chinese clearly see some advantage to keeping such a bellicose regime around. The North Koreans give China a useful proxy, that can stir up trouble and drive international agendas whenever the Chinese desire it, while tying down considerable Western military assets. All Beijing must do is mouth the odd platitude about international co-operation and peace, while using its diplomatic power (including a UN Security Council veto) to insulate the North from any real consequences. North Korea's missile tests, its illicit nuclear arms development, and now, its increasingly violent behaviour towards the South - all have been enabled, if not outright supported, by China.

Enough is enough. China will soon be a global power to rival the United States. With that might must come the maturity to act responsibly. South Korea has been pushed to the limit - over the last eight months, it has seen a warship blown out of the water in the dead of night and now, its civilians have been shelled in their own homes. If the South is pushed further, it will strike back. The danger inherent to that situation cannot be overstated. The time has come for China to either reign in its recklessly ally or cut them loose.

Until they take this necessary step to further international peace and security, the world should deny Beijing the recognition as a leading power that it so desperately craves. Propping up North Korea's insane belligerence and being a senior partner in the geopolitical game are incompatible goals. If Beijing won't make this decision for itself, it should be subject to the same shunning as the regime whose violence it enables.

Former State Department senior adviser Christian Whiton suggests, among other things:

President Obama should ask South Korea to place its forces on alert and order the U.S. military to present him with options for a sustained force buildup and possible retaliatory options that will show the generals in North Korea they are worse off for haven followed Kim Jong Il's orders...

We should also talk openly to South Korea and Japan about moving U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the region. This is an appropriate response to a growing North Korean nuclear threat. It will also show the Chinese government that the misconduct of its client state also harms Beijing's security. That, more than blind hope, will get Beijing's attention.

While the White House hasn't gone as far to start talking about nukes in the Pacific, the USS George Washington is headed to the Yellow Sea for joint excercises with South Korean forces. This is a show of strength that will send a message not only to North Korea but to China, which has objected to Yellow Sea joint excercises in the past.

View all comments (14) | Leave a comment

Reaganite Republican| 11.24.10 @ 4:07AM

Hard to take Chinese diplomacy seriously if they can't put a lid on this pugnacious crackpot and his reckless brinkmanship... now would be a good time- right here's their chance to be somebody.

Man up, China!

robert davis| 11.28.10 @ 2:59PM

yuuup!

now's the time...

toad| 11.24.10 @ 7:19AM

China itself is been indulging in provactive acts toward Japan and its other neighbors. It is way past time that they should be indulged in any way. In fact it might be could to stop talking to the Chinese government until their actions become more responsible and start matching words.

SC Mike| 11.24.10 @ 7:26AM

The NorKs have over 10,000 artillery tubes pointed South Korea’s way that could do much damage to the infrastructure and population in a very short time. That’s the threat we face should they decide the time is right to attack.

We’re not dealing with a rational opponent and can’t be sure what will set them off. Unless / until we figure out a way to handle that potential barrage, there’s not much we can do.

Curly Smith| 11.24.10 @ 8:47AM

N. Korea is entirely rational. They "throw a fit" and we send them piles of money and aid. Couple that with China both shielding them from any real reprisal and undoubtedly planning their "fits". N. Korea learned a long time ago that misbehaving can be very lucrative as China first pays them to misbehave and then we pay them to stop misbehaving. China only lights the N. Korea fuse when they want something and it's either a regional power play or they want a deeper bow from the Bamster.

David W| 11.24.10 @ 8:30AM

maybe we suggest that we could also send tactical nukes to Taiwan. I wonder how far our government will go since China is paying for all of the entitlements and other non-useful things that we in the country crave so much.

Red Phillips| 11.24.10 @ 12:16PM

Why are American troops still in Korea? For that matter, why were they ever there? Our troops presence there is going to get us dragged into a conflict that is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS! We should bring our troops home NOW, before this mess escalates and we get dragged into someone else's war.

Sandy| 11.26.10 @ 5:40AM

This is why I detest Libertarianism.

Sandy| 11.26.10 @ 5:43AM

I would also like to add that this is why the majority in the country has rejected Libertarianism over the years, and will continue to do so.

PCC| 11.24.10 @ 5:53PM

A unified Korea under democratic rule means U.S. troops on the Yalu River. The Chinese do not want that any more than we want Chinese forces on the Mexican or Canadian border. Don't expect any change in China's Korean policy.

Roz Macain| 11.25.10 @ 1:41AM

That analogy is based upon a false assumption.
The U.S. would never station soldiers or equipment "on the Yalu River". Your reasoning sounds like one of those Chinese Communist Party Neanderthals that harp about the Korean War as being an honorable war that China had to get involved in. God forbid that they should admit that their country divided Korea and has supported this evil status quo to this very day.

c. j. acworth| 11.24.10 @ 6:58PM

I don't see why we can't let the South handle this themselves. Their economy is light years ahead of the North's, they have the more up-to- date equipment, and their guys are plenty tough. (One vet I know who was stationed in SK for a time told me he wondered why the ROKs didn't all keel over from testosterone poisoning.) We can give air support and re-supply perhaps, but the South should be able to stand on their own.

Sandy| 11.26.10 @ 5:36AM

I doubt the South Koreans could handle it on their own. The North Koreans have had China and Russia behind them since the country was split. The South Koreans have had the US behind them, or they would have been taken over by the North, China and Russia long ago.