China 'will not protect' Korea ship attackers

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

China "will not protect" whoever sank a South Korean warship in March, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has said.

"China objects to and condemns any act that destroys the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," Mr Wen was quoted as saying after talks in Seoul.
...
Beijing is under pressure to take a strong stance against North Korea but so far has not accepted the findings of an independent investigation.

"The Chinese government will decide its position by objectively and fairly judging what is right and wrong about the incident while respecting the international probe and responses to it by each nation," said Mr Wen.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10181527.stm

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Notably, they're not yet accepting that it definitely was North Korea. But this does look like, as the article says, "a sign of a subtle and careful shift in position by the Beijing authorities".

[SkyDaddy7]

1. I think it is time China steps up...

And assumes the role of peace maker in their region! They really are the only country that can prevent little boy Kim Jong-il from starting a war that could kill millions of people! China literally has been feeding NK so that NK can spend all their money on weapons and nukes. So, this sounds like a step in the right direction...We will see.


All the problems our President has right now would reduced to child's play if NK starts setting off nukes!

[Dappleganger]

9. China really needs to be begin acting like the superpower which they are.

BE the adult in that region and LEAD. Insist upon a certain type of behavior to keep the peace and if that's not done, follow through with further pressure to comply.

[Grinchie]

2. China will not step into another Iraq setup.

No matter how sweetly Hillary coo's in their ear.

[SkyDaddy7]

12. It has nothing to do with Hillary...

It has everything to do with NK starting a war on China's front porch! Plus, China is now a world leader and they need to step up and do their duty. They know a war, a possible nuclear war on their doorstep would kill their economy.

However, do not under estimate the power of Hillary!

[Javaman]

3. Wars cost money and the last thing china wants right now is something that

will drag down its economy.

So over the side goes n korea.

pershaps n korea should take the hint.

[harry_pothead]

20. I thought war was the best way to revitalize your economy.

The Lesser Bush told the Argentine president that, so it must be true.

[FLPanhandle]

4. If China gets involved against the US there go all those factories and exports.

It'll cost them 100's of billions of dollars and probably the permanent shutdown of western based factories.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Not to mention we would straight up default on the debt they've purchased from us. I've...

...believed for the last few years that, at a certain point, America will only be able to clear up it's debt by starting wars with its lenders. That's not possible for some countries, obviously, but if China came into a Korean conflict against the U.S. it definitely would.

PB

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Stop daydreaming. Not gonna happen. The Chinese aren't stupid, NK will be left alone. -nt

[icee]

14. Exactly. I've been waiting for that.

[pampango]

15. Exactly. You're less likely to go to war with a country that you have a lot of trade with.

You're interdependent.

We had a trade embargo in effect with Japan before Pearl Harbor so they didn't have to worry about further damage to their economy when they attacked, since they weren't getting anything from us anyway. Of course, a few years later their economy was wrecked by a naval blockade and bombing raids.

[Ratty]

5. NK is a buffer.

It separates China from South Korea and is very valuable to them. They want to keep it just as it is.

[daleo]

7. It also keeps U.S. troops off their border

I also think it is best if nuclear armed superpowers keep a buffer zone between their troops.

[FLPanhandle]

8. No North Korea; then no US troops on the peninsula either.

I wouldn't be surprised if a deal is being discussed behind closed doors in China and South Korea.

Let's topple this crazy ass government, unite the Koreas, and have the U.S. leave. China gets a nice new market for it's goods right on it's border, it gets the US off the Korean peninsula, and it doesn't have to deal with the crazy.

[daleo]

10. U.S. troops might be pulled out, if there was unification

But the record is uneven, at best. For example, there are still substantial U.S. forces in Europe, even though the Soviet Union no longer exists and Germany is unified. Indeed, the newly unified Korea might well request that U.S. troops stay to deter the Chinese from any adventures.

[FLPanhandle]

17. Which is why the agreement would have to be in place ahead of time.

It would help everyone involved. China wouldn't have to support a wacko NK buffer zone, the US wouldn't have to spend money on troops in Korea, and the Koreans would finally be united.

[daleo]

19. Maybe they can work a deal

There would be a lot of distrust, but also a lot of potential benefits.

[iandhr]

11. I would think...

... that taking a strong stance against the North would be a great opportunity for China. They would be able to show they are responsible members of the International Community.

[Lagomorph]

16. I think China would sleep better if...

Kim got his nukes taken away from him.

When it comes to legitimate, open relations, China has much more to gain, as the regional power, than it has protecting NK's right to starve itself.

[Zynx]

18. This is saying "If a war starts with the North over this, they're on their own."

China would be happy to see Kim Jong-Il go away.