A post by Maynard
Here’s The Economist‘s follow-up story in the aftermath of the torpedo recovery. As The Economist sees it, the other relevant powers (South Korea, America, Japan) are on board to squeeze North Korea, and this puts the ball squarely in China’s court. Will China condemn North Korea, or will it find an excuse to do nothing? If the Chinese lifeline isn’t pinched, then North Korea will end up shrugging off new sanctions. On the other hand, if China is willing to take North Korea to the woodshed, then there may be some changes. The Economist suggests that the other players try not to give China any excuses to go AWOL on this one, which the Chinese would certainly prefer to do.
This is the kind of situation that could suddenly flare up into a major war. It’s not a big news story like it should be, but a lot of people in the line of fire are biting their fingernails.
North Korea is bascially a client-nation of China. North Korea won’t make a move without China’s okay and China plays them off against the rest of the world. Why would China ever make a choice between North and South? Having a nuclear North Korea is like having another loaded gun in the closet. So yes, squeezing North Korea would force China to make a move, but wouldn’t they just put the squeeze on American debt? Would we back down? Probably— as long as we are in such a weakend state. China has the upper hand and may not see it as going AWOL, they simply brush us off and tell the North not to sink anymore ships. And nothing changes. If this only involved North Korea it would be so much easier, because while I think the regime is insane, I don’t think they are suicidal.
I feel sorry for the North Korean people.
Consequences of not finishing the job.
‘Consequences of not finishing the job.’
That’s what my late father said.