China puts army on Korea border

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3109796.stm

The Chinese Government says it has transferred control of its border with North Korea from the police to the People's Liberation Army.

But it is refusing to confirm media reports that it has also sent 150,000 combat troops to the border area in recent weeks.

A number of Hong Kong newspapers have reported that the extra troops were being deployed to seal off the border, and put pressure on the North Korean Government to end its nuclear weapons programme.

But the timing seems more than a coincidence.

more

[oneighty]

1. North Korea

Is China's buffer zone. It was in 1950 and it is now. Keeps the WASP world out of Mainland China.

180

[FlashHarry]

2. That hasn't been true for years

China in 1950 and China now are two totally distinct entities. North Korea is a threat to China, not a 'buffer.' Thanks to creeping capitalism, many Chinese are getting very, very rich and want to keep it that way. And the government is pretty happy with their little 'experiment' in the various trade zones. The last thing they want is instability on the Korean peninsula. Believe me, it's in China's interests to have NK enter the 21st century––maybe not as a capitalist democracy like its neighbor to the south, but at least as a more progressive communist state, rather than remaining a totalitarian Stalinist country.

[oneighty]

3. I agree

to disagree.

Ed

[LeftistGorilla]

4. same here....

during the Korean war.... The UN and American troops fought their way to the Chinese border and were met by 100,000 troops.... I have a feeling China is ready again just in case...

[Bandit]

5. So you doubt that China would aid N. Korea if they were attacked by US

or Japan or anybody. I find it hard to believe that China would turn it's back on such a long established friendship. Remember China lost a few soldiers during our Korean Conflict and they are not "over it" yet.

[damnraddem]

8. I don't think that China intends to let N. Korea be attacked by anybody ..

but China. No, they don't want U.S. soldiers on their border. But I don't think they really expect an attack, given that N. Korea may already have nukes, and Dubya's expected reluctance to attack a country that has nukes. Or, if Dubya were to attack N. Korea WITH nukes, that wouldn't be good for China, either. For too long, China kept urging the Bushistas to negotiate their problems with N. Korea, as Clinton did in 1994. I think they've finally realized that the Bushistas are incapable of doing so. It would seem to be in China's interests to 'resolve' the 'N. Korea problem.' Doing so successfully would increase their prestige in the region.

[ScotTissue]

9. Absolutely agree

The Chinese are lining up against the Kim Jong Il faction, not with it. I think they see collapse and instability and want to keep it off their porch, thank you very much. Best way to do that is to pressure NK to cut the crap.

[David Zephyr]

6. Kick.

:kick:

[damnraddem]

7. I wondered when China would stop relying on the U.S. and take ...

action on its own to control the loose cannon on its border.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Chinese Checkers

There was a report recently of the problems China has had with North Koreans escaping into their northern provinces, not unlike the Mexican problem here. All these Koreans have escaped the "socialist paradise" of Kim Il Song and live in limbo...exploited for cheap labor with no official status. Many of these Koreans have resorted to crime to survive...and put up a big struggle if caught as they face certain death or worse (if there's such a thing) if they're deported back to the North.

I think the Chinese are hedging their bets on what's happening in the North. It appears they are just as surprised as we are to the bravado and brinksmanship the North is playing on the nukes issue.

As someone in this thread noted, China isn't the same one of 1949. It's best interests are in peace and prosperity in that entire region and their economy continues to grow. A war would devestate not only the Korean economy, but possibly send the entire Asian market down the tanks again.

China's best interests are to keep a close eye on North Korea, but they, like the rest of the outside world have little influence or real understanding of how Kim's world works. Hopefully they will cut off any and all trade...except for U.N. sanctioned food and medical shipments across the border and then we'll see how Kim reacts (especially when his supply of VSOP is cut off)

[teryang]

11. China is a party to the armistice

While refugees from N.Korea are unwelcome, any American incursions across or north of the DMZ are not going to be taken laying down.

The sphere of influence thing does matter to Chinese leadership. The American sphere will not be allowed to increase at China's expense. N.Korea's fate is really immaterial when it comes to great power maneuvers on the Korean peninsula. Anyone who thinks "it's different now" is ignoring not only millenia of Chinese behavior but also the legacy of the 19th and 20th Centuries on Chinese attitudes toward western encroachment.

I don't know how people can think the Chinese would tolerate a territorial violation of the armistice. What will they get out of it besides a loss of prestige? This has nothing to do with the breakdown of the Agreed Framework or nuclear proliferation. In fact, one wonders whether a Chinese incursion is not possible at some point under these circumstances.

People who think it won't happen remind me of MacArthur's huge miscalculation in 1950. China has much more understanding of the North and what is going on there than anyone in our government.