China’s Conduct in Containing North Korea’s Barbarism

Published in Nikkei
(Japan) on 8 December 2010
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephen Barlow. Edited by Gheanna Emelia.
In a joint declaration given during the opening of the conference this week in Washington, Japan, the United States and South Korea requested that China play a more active role in preventing North Korea's provocations. In order to contain any further acts of brutality, China must show a more concrete resolve.

The declaration confirmed the alliance between South Korea, Japan and the U.S. concerning the provocative and illegal actions of North Korea, including the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island and the establishment of a uranium enrichment facility for increased nuclear development. To strengthen security coordination, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been dispatched to South Korea and Japan.

Due to the North's attack on South Korea, the U.S. and South Korea continued to expand their joint military exercises until the Dec. 1. Japan also began joint maneuvers with America, as they started naval firing practice with South Korea. This is the second time in one year that these U.S.-Korea combined maneuvers have come under consideration. In strengthening the unity between these three countries, they have to attain a certain amount of pressure once they have begun to curb North Korea's rampage.

However, what's more important is finding a way to reform North Korea's provocative, warlike nature. For that reason, it goes without saying that they would ask China, who carries a lot of clout with North Korea, to play a part in the negotiations.

As the chair of the of the six party talks, China proposed an emergency meeting, but Japan, South Korea and the U.S. unconditionally refused to attend the opening. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed that even though China was the current chair of the six party talks, they were too strongly tethered to North Korea. China must first show their resolve in playing out their special role as the reformer of North Korea's behavior. I think that's only natural.

Before Japan, America and South Korea's foreign minister's conference, China and America's heads of state had their first telephone discussion since the bombardment incident. President Hu Jintao expressed deep concern, expressing that if we don't find an appropriate way to deal with the increasing tension in Korea, it might grow out of control.

North Korea is the one who is deliberately raising the tension in the Korean peninsula. It seems that before China can pursue a dialogue with either country, they first need to show clear criticism of North Korea's violent acts and more forcefully persuade them to create an environment in which they are more open to nuclear abandonment and other major issues.

In response to North Korea's bombardment and taking of civilian life, a preliminary investigation has been started in an international court to judge whether it is a war crime or not. The building of the uranium enrichment facility is in violation of the U.N. Security Council's demand for North Korea to cease all nuclear programs. China is also in agreement with this decision.

If we just fold their hands passively and wait, North Korea will continue the shelling or even launch missiles, and the threat of a second nuclear test is continuously magnifying South Korea's fears to an almost unbearable level. The point of this argument is that there is no guarantee that China will face the issue. I must urge China to change their attitude and immediately dispatch special envoys to North Korea to admonish them. It is China's duty, as a major power, to protect the peace and stability of Northeast Asia.


 日本、米国と韓国がワシントンで3カ国外相会談を開き、北朝鮮の挑発を阻止するため、中国に積極的な役割を果たすよう求める共同声明を発表した。中国は北朝鮮のさらなる蛮行を封じ込めるべく、具体的な行動に乗り出すべきである。

 共同声明は北朝鮮による韓国・延坪島への砲撃、核開発に向けたウラン濃縮施設の建設といった挑発行為を非難し、日米韓が結束して対応する方針を確認した。米国は安全保障分野の連携を強めるため、統合参謀本部議長を日韓に派遣する。

 北朝鮮による韓国砲撃を受け、米韓は1日まで黄海で合同軍事演習を展開した。日米は共同統合演習を実施中で、韓国軍も海上射撃訓練を始めた。年内にも再度の米韓合同演習が検討中とされる。3カ国の結束強化は、北朝鮮の暴走に歯止めをかけるうえで一定の圧力となろう。

 ただ、より重要なのは北朝鮮の好戦的で挑発的な態度を根本から改めさせることだ。そのために、北朝鮮に強い影響力を持つ中国の役割が問われているのは言うまでもない。

 中国は6カ国協議の首席代表による緊急会合を提案しているが、日米韓は無条件での開催を拒否した。クリントン米国務長官は「中国は北朝鮮と強い絆(きずな)があり、6カ国協議の議長国でもある」と述べ、中国が北朝鮮のふるまいを正すべく特別な役割を演じるのが先決との立場を示した。当然だろう。

 日米韓の外相会談に先立ち、米中首脳は砲撃後初めて電話会談した。胡錦濤国家主席は「適切に対処しなければ朝鮮半島の緊張はさらに高まり、制御不能になる可能性がある」と強い懸念を表明したという。

 朝鮮半島の緊張を意図的に高めているのは北朝鮮だ。中国は各国に対話を求める前に、まずは北朝鮮の暴挙を明確に非難し、核放棄など対話に向けた環境づくりを進めるよう北朝鮮を説得するのが筋だろう。

 陸上砲撃で民間人の命まで奪った北朝鮮の蛮行に対し、戦争犯罪などを裁く国際刑事裁判所は予備調査を始めた。ウラン濃縮施設の建設はすべての核計画の停止を求めた国連安全保障理事会の決議に違反する。決議には中国も同意している。

 手をこまぬいていれば、北朝鮮がさらなる砲撃やミサイル発射、再度の核実験と挑発をさらに拡大する懸念は捨てきれない。その矛先が中国に向かないという保証はない。

 中国は特使派遣などを通じて北朝鮮の蛮行を直ちに戒め、態度変化を促すべきだ。北東アジアの平和と安定に責任を持つ大国の務めである。
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