Re: [Pen-l] the Korean situation

[Martin Hart-Landsberg <marty@xxxxxxxxxx>]

One never knows, but I think it unlikely that North Korea is acting as proxy for China.  The main reason is that North Korean policy actions end up triggering US responses that place China in somewhat difficult positions given its general desire for good relations with the U.S.  For example, China would rather not have to deal with current security council discussions on possible sanctions on North Korea. 

In fact, North Korea has become quite skillful at pushing its own policy line and forcing China to accommodate it and actually front for it in negotiations with the U.S.  North Korea knows well that China does not want to see North Korea collapse and have a pro-U.S. Korean regime on its border. 

The North Koreans are pretty tough and have broken with China and with the old Soviet Union at various points in the past when they felt that they were being pushed to hard. 

Marty


Gernot Koehler wrote:

Marty Hart-Landsberg (05apr09) raised concerns about US policy with respect to North Korea.

I am wondering to what extent North Korea is acting as a proxy for China. If that were the case, then one could argue that China is testing the new US foreign minister (Secretary of State) and her boss via North Korean actions (recent rocket launch). A precedent for this kind of politics by proxy can be found in the late 1950s before the Sino-Soviet split (around 1960). Albania served as China's proxy. When the Soviet Union wanted to criticize China, she criticized Albania. When China wanted to get back at the Soviet Union, it was through pronouncements by Enver Hoxha (Albania).
 
GK

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