China state media: North Korea would 'pay a heavy price' for nuclear test

[struggle4progress]

Source: NBC

By Ed Flanagan, Producer, NBC News

Published at 9:42 a.m. ET: BEIJING – It remains unclear just when, if ever, North Korea will attempt its controversial third nuclear test, but there are growing signs that the reclusive nation's biggest political ally is growing weary of its behavior.

A strongly worded editorial in China's state-run Global Times newspaper Wednesday called on Beijing to get tough with Pyongyang if it conducts a nuclear test.

"If North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price," the paper said. It called on China to cut economic aid to the struggling country as punishment.

The editorial also restated a popular opinion held by many Chinese experts that friction between North Korea and its regional neighbors was opening China up to diplomatic attack from players such as the United States ...

http://behindthewall.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/06/16867952-china-state-media-north-korea-would-pay-a-heavy-price-for-nuclear-test

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[davidpdx]

1. I read the original article and it is clear that China will not do anything if

NK tests another device. We will see a repeat of the same watered down warnings against NK due to China's ability to protect NK with its veto power on the UN Security Council. China will continue to publicly call for "calm" of the situation. It really is a farce that China and NK are playing with the world.

[Socal31]

2. Of course it is a farce.

China loves the distraction of a buffer State. They have moved on from pure communism and are soon to be the #1 economy in the world. Meanwhile, NK is trapped in the last century, and its people are suffering greatly.

The Chinese are becoming more and more hawkish, due to increased nationalism attributed to their self-awareness of their rising status as a superpower.

The leadership does not want a conflict with the US anymore than we want a conflict with China. But they are beginning to test our defense commitments to Japan and Taiwan. They are developing military technology that is not quite as good as the United States', but is made much cheaper.

On the other side of the coin, they do not want to give SK and the US an excuse to take out the NK leadership and unify the peninsula with a western-backed leadership.

Things will change dramatically based on the yield of the upcoming NK test. If it is highly enriched uranium, it will steal the spotlight from drones, guns, and Iran. If it is two plutonium bombs set off simultaneously to try to fool seismic and satellite sensors, then they are still where they were 7 years ago. Given they have received help from other nations, I doubt they have remained that stagnant as far as nuclear weapons technology.

[pampango]

4. I think China's increased nationalism is caused more by their government using it to distract

citizens from the issues they have with their own unelected officials.

While Chinese citizens push for greater freedoms, real unions and labor legislation, environmental protection and others, the government says "Look over there - a foreigner trying to tell us what to do! Let's wave the flag and focus on that rather than these pesky freedoms you keep trying to force us into."

Nationalism has not always risen in Asia when a country has become more prosperous. Japan and South Korea (and, to a lesser extent, several other Asian countries) have not followed this path. That's why I think the focus on patriotism in China is a conscious government policy to distract people away from their frustrations with their own government.

[davidpdx]

5. Good point

And it is pretty easy for the Chinese Government to stir up nationalism and create other problems. The whole thing with the islands has been going on for years, but it is just recently that China has started really stirring up crap about it. Usually it's South Korea and Japan with the Dokdo/Takeshima Island dispute that has been a bigger deal.

To some extent I have seen contempt for the Japanese in Korea. Even the kids repeat things that are just ludicrous. Yes, there is a good reason for distrusting them, but I think some people take it bit too far.

[davidpdx]

6. One of my main complaints is that the Middle East always sucks up so much attention

That issues in the rest of the world don't get addressed. There seems to be a cycle with North Korea where things get really bad, then it goes quite for awhile and they decide they need attention and they start in with their piss fit.

I've been here through two tests and several missile launches. The first nuclear test really had me on edge, but since then I am not as nervous about it. The sinking of the Korean Navy ship and the firing on Yeonpyeong Island were pretty nerve racking as well.

[pampango]

3. China may talk itself into a corner at some point in the future but that's not around the corner.

How many times can a government threaten to 'get tough' then not do it before its credibility is undermined? Plenty of times would be my answer, but the number if not infinite.