Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Julius]

N.Korea-China Spat Intensifies

China and North Korea have been criticizing each other in strong language since the North tested another nuclear device. The spat intensified since North Korea on May 29 condemned China and Russia, which are discussing sanctions against the Stalinist country in the UN Security Council, for being "sycophants" to the United States.

Top Chinese officials, usually known for their extreme caution, have changed their tune....

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/06/05/2009060500650.html

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Geez, only took 50 years.

[pkang0202]

I think its all an act. I don't believe that 2 communists governments, with strict control over media, would really let a falling out between them become news.

The only explanation is they purposely wanted the media to report this, so China "looks" like it is in a more critical position of North Korea.

[dmbfan]

[Julius]

[bacasper]

[Kuros]

[bucheon bum]

[CentralCali]

[Julius]

[bucheon bum]

[On the other hand]

From 2006...

[ManintheMiddle]

Intriguing thread topic, OP.

I, too, have often wondered to what extent the Chinese are at odds with the North Koreans. Certainly the former is exasperated with the latter although the former gains some legitimate clout in world opinion by brokering the six-party talks, despite their now obvious failure.

And clearly both nations have demonstrated an almost exclusively self-serving foreign policy over the decades, so they understand each other's motives quite well.

The rift between the former Soviet Union and Red China took years to become a chasm and we might be witnessing a similar gradual falling out with these two.

That said, what China has most feared until now is the rapid influx of refugees into DongBei (i.e. Manchuria) from the DPRK.

But the recent underground nuclear test has increased their fears of a nuclear arms race in Northeast Asia--a very real possibility which even Hillary Clinton has just acknowledged officially.

In the game of saving face, though, temper tantrums between Asian nations are usually real and we have no reason to doubt these are--at least on some level. It's the same reason that the North Koreans will expect yet another apology if they are to release the two American journalists.

Of course, what no Asian power understands is that in the eyes of the West they have already lost face by dint of unreasonable response to events, as when the Chinese fishing boats badgered the American spy vessel off Hainan last month.

The telling sign will come if Premier Wen Jiabao comments publicly on it at the behest of the Standing Committee.