Fear of instability stops China reining in N. Korea
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BEIJING — China’s deep-seated fear of instability along its northeastern border will prevent it from reining in its erratic ally North Korea after Pyongyang’s deadly attack on a South Korean island, analysts said.
World powers led by the United States have categorically condemned Tuesday’s artillery bombardment of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong island, leaving China isolated as it merely expressed “concern.”
The fact that Tuesday’s attack even happened may show that the West has overestimated Beijing’s influence over its reclusive neighbor, analysts said.
They added that demands by US President Barack Obama and Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan for China to maximize its leverage over Pyongyang appeared unrealistic.
“The Chinese are in a dilemma in terms of how to respond to this,” said Brian Bridges, head of the political science department at Hong Kong’s Lingnan University..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101126com3.html
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