AP: China Opposes Military Action Vs N.Korea

[Eugene]

Associated Press
China Opposes Military Action Vs N.Korea
10.10.2006, 05:14 AM

China opposes military action against North Korea over its nuclear test,
a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

"We do not endorse any military action toward North Korea. We are firmly
against that," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a
briefing. "Taking military action against North Korea would be unimaginable."

Liu said members of the U.N. Security Council were not considering military
force at this point. "So this is positive," Liu said.

North Korea has one of the world's largest standing armies, with artillery
batteries deeply entrenched in bunkers that could strike the South Korean
capital, Seoul. Military analysts say planning any kind of strike against
North Korea could result in high numbers of civilian casualties.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2006/10/10/ap3078450.html

Also: China Losing Patience With North Korea - AP

[Deja Q]

1. What will China endorse?

And will N Korea agree to it?

[bdamomma]

2. Well at least the leaders in China don't do stupid things like attack

countries!!!

[The Brethren]

3. if this were

a chess game, I'd call China a Rook. The Queen has much more power and mobility, but is also more aggressive. The Rook is often reserved and calculating. And it is at it's best when under-estimated.

Whatever our leaders would like to believe, China's loyalties lies with it's self foremost.

[maseman]

4. China has extreme power over NK

NK may have a very large army and they may have a small nuke or two, but China controlls their food and oil/gasoline. An army with hungry soldiers and no diesel for the tanks or aircraft is pretty ineffective.

China is affraid that if war starts that hundreds of thousands of N Koreans will flood over their border (whic would happen.) That is their biggest concern.

[dubykc]

5. This is true to a degree, but...

I think China's bigger concern is that they know NK's military is absolutely no match for the US and without China's direct (troops and equipment) help NK would be dust if we were to engage in military action against NK. So, China's choices are: get directly involved and prolong military action for Goddess knows how long or sit back and let the US defeat them and have us occupying a country that shares a border with them. This I think is a greater concern of China than the masses crossing the border into China. Just my thoughts.

[The Brethren]

6. good point

but it does concern me a little to see that they've come out with a affirmative stance against engaging directly with NK. To their advantage, China has often taken a more neutral role; carefully watching global struggles but also wisely investing themselves in different countries without tipping the scale too far. Seeing this recent action makes me wonder where their priorities are. Like any intelligent government (are ya listening junior), I'm guessing they're weighing the options and how best to respond.

Jianchaos' comment: '"Taking military action against North Korea would be unimaginable."' particularly caught my attention. Personally, I wouldn't bank my security on China making decisions in the best interests our country if push comes to shove. I think they would play us just as fast as they would NK.

And to make it more unsettling, at least as I see it, 2 days ago I was listening to an interview with a military analyst who said that even the CIA and our government are not 100% sure what military technologies our enemies have. For ex. if they have found away to keep their submarines invisible to our detection. This would then open up even more vulnerable spots to us if an attack occurred. He also questioned if things continued to heat up and what would happen if the conflict with NK triggers other countries to choose sides or reopen old wounds between themselves. I think NK is nuts, but I don't think they're going to take their marbles and go home. I also keep getting this feeling that there's more going on with them and China then meets the eye.