North Korea warns of war

Ibby · 05-25-2010, 03:15 PM

A nuclear or massive-scale-conventional assault on North Korea would definitely spark Chinese retaliation, to save face if nothing else. China would feel the need to ensure its interests on the peninsula are kept safe - any solution to the North Korea problem would require Chinese support.

Think of it as, North Korea is China's unruly little brother. China wouldn't necessarily mind someone helping them take care of the rowdy little bugger, as long as they didn't, you know, pound him into oblivion. Kim is embarrassing the Chinese government by throwing his tantrums, but they don't just want him - or, rather, their influence over the region - to just disappear.

China is the biggest player in the region, and ANY solution to the NK problem would need their full support, and to ensure their influence and interests are upheld.

ETA: also, would the U.S.'s interests in Japan or Taiwan or Canada be worth the cost of a war to defend them? Probably not, logically speaking, but treaties and a sense of duty to our friends mean that we would do so anyway. Likewise, China would come to North Korea's aid if they were not reassured that their interests would be looked out for.

ETA 2: Besides, if you were China and detected an ICBM launch towards you, you'd probably shoot first and ask questions later, too.

Spexxvet · 05-26-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

Sorry spexxie it wouldn't change my mind one iota.

You heartless bastard! I'm telling your mom what you said.

Seriously, you'd really sacrifice your own mother just to start a war with NK?

TheMercenary · 05-26-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Seriously, you'd really sacrifice your own mother just to start a war with NK?

No, but we would easily sacrifice yours....

tw · 05-26-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibram

China is the biggest player in the region, and ANY solution to the NK problem would need their full support, and to ensure their influence and interests are upheld.

Which explains why Hilary Clinton is apparently doing shuttle diplomacy. And it is making the Chinese leadership suddenly take note.

BBC News reports a rather interesting observation. China is completely confused by this entire issue. Not that it has attracted so much attention - far more than China apparently expected. China apparently cannot figure out why N Korea did this.

It sounds so much like what happened during the silly Spy Plane incident. Chinese leadership was the last to learn what had happened. Was completely blindsided by the turmoil and rumblings of war. But this is a different Chinese leadership. According to the BBC, Chinese are stalling for time until they can figure out what this is all about.

This is part of a long process of China coming to grips with its responsibilities to the world. Normally China would avoid the entire issue because they see no profit in it. But the issue has been forced upon them. More reasons for their confusion.

05-25-2010, 03:15 PM	#1
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	A nuclear or massive-scale-conventional assault on North Korea would definitely spark Chinese retaliation, to save face if nothing else. China would feel the need to ensure its interests on the peninsula are kept safe - any solution to the North Korea problem would require Chinese support. Think of it as, North Korea is China's unruly little brother. China wouldn't necessarily mind someone helping them take care of the rowdy little bugger, as long as they didn't, you know, pound him into oblivion. Kim is embarrassing the Chinese government by throwing his tantrums, but they don't just want him - or, rather, their influence over the region - to just disappear. China is the biggest player in the region, and ANY solution to the NK problem would need their full support, and to ensure their influence and interests are upheld. ETA: also, would the U.S.'s interests in Japan or Taiwan or Canada be worth the cost of a war to defend them? Probably not, logically speaking, but treaties and a sense of duty to our friends mean that we would do so anyway. Likewise, China would come to North Korea's aid if they were not reassured that their interests would be looked out for. ETA 2: Besides, if you were China and detected an ICBM launch towards you, you'd probably shoot first and ask questions later, too. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh Last edited by Ibby; 05-25-2010 at 03:25 PM.

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