Americans Know John Kerry Is Wearing Emperor’s New Clothes

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 4 February 2016
by Lao Mu (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Yuzhi Yang. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
An article published in The National Interest on Jan. 31 entitled “Why China and America Don’t See Eye to Eye on North Korea,” was critical of Secretary of State John Kerry’s critique of China’s position on the North Korean nuclear problem. The author believes that China’s position was reasonable. Chinese readers commended the article by saying that some Americans do know the truth. In fact, the author was like the child who points out the emperor’s new clothes, making it apparent that Kerry is acting as if he is ignorant while he is fully aware of the facts in North Korea.

The article objectively stated China’s view. “The origin and crux of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula has never been China,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman. “The key to solving the problem is not China.” While China has reiterated this stance, few Americans are aware of it, making the erroneous theory that China is responsible for the North Korean nuclear problem quite popular.

Kerry has repeatedly asked China to pressure North Korea, which the article believes is unrealistic. “China-DPRK ties should not be understood as a top-down relationship where the latter follows every bit of advice offered by the former,” the article stated.* This is a reasonable view. North Korea emphasizes independent diplomacy, and developing nuclear weapons is its national policy. According to analysts, in the beginning of the six-sided talks, North Korea repeatedly said that as long as America guaranteed its safety, it would give up its nuclear program. The American president at the time, George W. Bush, was adamant and refused the request. After China worked as a go-between, America agreed to guarantee its safety, but North Korea changed its mind. North Korea’s safety could only be guaranteed by itself, if America did so, we would still develop nuclear weapons. North Korea believed that having nuclear weapons was the only option in defending against the American threat and protecting its national security. Since North Korea is so obsessed with the nuclear program, it won’t listen to anyone’s persuasion or bow to anyone’s pressure on this issue.

In January 2013, North Korea launched its Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite, widely known as a ballistic missile test. When the U.N. Security Council sanctioned the country, North Korea’s national defense committee released a statement saying that there might be more discussions and cooperation for the peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula in the future, but there would be no more talks of denuclearization. More effort should be focused on promoting denuclearization of great powers like America. Only when the world, including America, is free of nuclear weapons, can North Korea be the same way. The stern words and inflexible attitude indicate that the North Korean nuclear program is now an untouchable zone.

America has changed its policies numerous times when it comes to North Korea’s nuclear issue; the only constant has been the joint military exercises between America and South Korea. The resulting threats toward North Korea have only managed to provide justification for its nuclear tests and motivate its nuclear program. If nuclear development in the Korean Peninsula is a spreading wildfire, North Korea is adding firewood while America is fanning the flame. Now that the fire is growing bigger and bigger, how can America blame China for being irresponsible? Where is the justification?

The National Interest article said, “In fact, Beijing’s position is understandable, indeed, reasonable from China’s standpoint, even if thoroughly unwelcome to Washington.” The evidence: If China imposed an embargo on fuel and food for North Korea, and destroyed a strong administration in Pyongyang, North Korea could face a huge crisis and armed conflict between factions as a result. Refugees could cross the Yalu River into China, resulting in a bigger crisis than that of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe. China could face a quandary with nuclear implications, and South Korea and America could jointly cross the DMZ to forcefully unite the Peninsula. This would be the greatest nightmare for China. The National Interest author asks: “So, explain to me again, Secretary Kerry, why China should ruin its geopolitical position to further Washington’s ends?” The analysis has a lot of foresight and is worth our attention.
  
Overall, Americans do value evidence, but due to distractions from politicians and the media, they do not really know China and have misunderstandings about the country. Making the American public understand the real China is crucial, which is why I quote from this article in The National Interest and value its views.

*Editor’s note: This passage quotes Xinhua, the state-run Chinese news agency, as indicated in the National Interest article.


美国《国家利益》1月31日刊出题为《中美为何在朝鲜问题上不对眼》的文章,批评国务卿克里在朝核问题上对中国的指责没有道理,认为中国的朝鲜立场是合理的。中国网友为此点赞:美国也有明世理讲真话的人。实际上,此文作者很像是那个指出“皇帝新衣”的小孩,说出了一些事实真相,点破克里等人在朝核问题上揣着明白装糊涂。

  文章客观地转述了中国的观点。文章写道,“中国外交部发言人说,半岛核问题的由来和症结不在中国,解决的关键也不在中国;美国不要总是对别人,指手画脚,说三道四”。这些看法,尽管中国一再重申,但美国百姓知晓的并不多,朝核问题责任在中国的错误说法也因此颇有市场。

  克里一再催促中国向朝鲜施圧,文章认为这不现实,“中朝不是上下级关系”。这是一种求实的 见解。朝鲜是特别强调外交独立的国家,发展核武器被定为国策。据专家披露,六方会谈启动之初,朝鲜再三说,只要美国向朝提供安全保障,朝鲜就弃核。当时在 台上的小布什十分强硬,就是不开这个口。经过中国反复做工作,美国人答应“向朝鲜提供安全保障”。但朝鲜又改口了:“朝鲜的安全只能靠自己来保障。你美国 保障了,朝鲜还是要发展核武器。”朝鲜认定,拥有核武器是对付美国威胁、保障国家安全的不二选择。对拥核如此痴迷,它能听谁劝,能怕谁施圧?

  还有,2013年1月,朝鲜发射第二颗“光明星3号”卫星,在国际上被认为是“远程导弹发射”,联合国安 理会因此对其进行新制裁。对此,朝鲜国防委员会发表声明指出:今后,或许有旨在保障朝鲜半岛在内的本地区和平与安全的对话和协商,但绝不会再有议论朝鲜半 岛无核化的对话;必须集中全力推动美国等大国的无核化,而不是朝鲜半岛的无核化;只有彻底地先行推进包括美国无核化在内的全世界无核化,才有朝鲜半岛无核 化。口气如此严厉,态度这般决绝,朝核问题已成为不容外界触碰的禁区。

  应对朝鲜的核问题,美国出尔反尔,策略多变,唯一不变的是一年到头没完没了的美韩 联合军事演习,对朝鲜威胁恫吓,其结果只能是为朝鲜核试提供口实,给朝鲜拥核行动添加助力。如果将半岛有核化进程比作一场蔓延的大火,朝鲜是在添薪加柴, 美国则是鼓风助燃。如今,面对越烧越大的火势,美国竟谴责中国救火不利,负有责任,天下哪有这样的道理?

  《国家利益》说,“从中国的角度来看,北京的立场是可以理解的,是合理的”。其依据是:若中国对朝鲜在石油和食品方面实施禁运,毁掉一个强硬的平壤政权,其后果可能是朝鲜陷入极大困境和派系武斗,接着是难民大批越过鸭绿江,声势要大于逃往欧洲的叙利亚难民。中国将面临核武器和韩美联军越过非军事区强行统一半岛的困境。它将是他们最大的噩梦。文章作者质问克里:“国务卿先生,请再次告诉我,为何中国应该毁掉自己的地缘政治立场,为美国实现目标推波助澜?”这番颇具前瞻性的分析发人深思,值得重视。

总体上说,美国民众是重实证的,只是囿于政客和美媒的遮挡,使之对中国了解不多,误解曲解倒不少。让美国百姓认识一个真实的中国实在重要,这就是我为什么看重和大段引述《国家利益》文章内容的缘由。(劳木)
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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