Divided we stand
Contrary to initial expectations, the nuke tests are not leading to a unified front on North Korea's intransigence. While the Bush administration is gunning for regime collapse, South Korea and China will only accept the minimum required to bring Pyongyang back to the table. This reflects differences in priorities about nuclear proliferation and strategic interests. ...
Contrary to initial expectations, the nuke tests are not leading to a unified front on North Korea's intransigence. While the Bush administration is gunning for regime collapse, South Korea and China will only accept the minimum required to bring Pyongyang back to the table. This reflects differences in priorities about nuclear proliferation and strategic interests.
Contrary to initial expectations, the nuke tests are not leading to a unified front on North Korea's intransigence. While the Bush administration is gunning for regime collapse, South Korea and China will only accept the minimum required to bring Pyongyang back to the table. This reflects differences in priorities about nuclear proliferation and strategic interests.
South Korea is more concerned about stability and reform through engagement than about nuclear proliferation. Indeed, many in South Korea blame the Bush administration's bombastic rhetoric and policy for making the North insecure. Similarly, China will remain unwilling to lose an ally to stop nuclear proliferation. As the New York Times reports, many in China urge the PRC maintain its ties to North Korea to balance U.S. support for Taiwan.
"The core of the issue is not nuclear weapons," said Shen Dingli, a leading security expert at Fudan University in Shanghai…"You cannot expect China to abandon its ally completely while America continues to back Taiwan and allow the independence movement to thrive there."
The implicit assumption for both South Korea and China is that the U.S. will restrain Japan from going nuclear. Shinzo Abe says that won't happen, although he does believe in a more robust Japanese military.
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