North Korea and China

[saturneptune]

It would be interesting to know what some of you that are around my age (60) think Red China would do in the event of a major conflict between North and South Korea. The news media seems to write articles both ways.

When we were young, Red China was right up there with the Soviet Union as our greatest enemy with nuclear weapons. Not that Red China and the USSR got along that well, but the enemies were well defined. Of course, during the Korean War, we came really close to engaging China in a ground war.

In 1972, President Nixon made his famous trip to China which lead to the relationship we have with them today.

I still do not trust Red China in any aspect, and if they did help stop North Korea, it would be for their interests alone. However, I do not believe China has any love for the United States whatsoever, and would use any opportunity to knock us down a couple of rungs on the ladder.

The reason that it is so important to know what they would do is there is a big difference between dealing with NK alone and NK with China as an ally. Think about a gound war with China. It is not a pretty thought.

So what do you think China would do???

 

[Crabtownboy]

It would be interesting to know what some of you that are around my age (60) think Red China would do in the event of a major conflict between North and South Korea. The news media seems to write articles both ways.

In a way China is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the current situation. We are their biggest customer and they need us to keep their economy going. But they do not trust us and see North Korea as a buffer between the US and China.

When we were young, Red China was right up there with the Soviet Union as our greatest enemy with nuclear weapons. Not that Red China and the USSR got along that well, but the enemies were well defined. Of course, during the Korean War, we came really close to engaging China in a ground war.

Russia tricked China into going in on the side of North Korea. Could be an interesting separate thread.

In 1972, President Nixon made his famous trip to China which lead to the relationship we have with them today.

Do you rememger the "ping pong" diplomacy?

I still do not trust Red China in any aspect, and if they did help stop North Korea, it would be for their interests alone. However, I do not believe China has any love for the United States whatsoever, and would use any opportunity to knock us down a couple of rungs on the ladder.

China will do what they believe is in their best interest ... just as all countries do.

The reason that it is so important to know what they would do is there is a big difference between dealing with NK alone and NK with China as an ally. Think about a gound war with China. It is not a pretty thought.

So what do you think China would do???

And North Korea is no paper tiger.

I have been thinking this over since it began and I cannot figure which scenario is closest to the truth. Here are the scenarios I have thought that might be behind N. Korea and the current problems.

• North Korea is continuing playing "bad guy" -- "good guy", i.e. we will stop being a bad guy if you will lift the sanctions and give us tons of aid.
• China is backing N. Korea to see how far we can be pushed.
• Iran is backing N. Korea, attempting to reduce our attention to their nuclear program.
• The N. Korean hard line generals are setting it up to overthrow the "new boy" and take over.

There may be others aiding N. Korea. I am not sure just what is going. One think I do know, there is a lot more going on than we hear about ... but that is always true.

 

[Oldtimer]

China will do what they believe is in their best interest ... just as all countries do.

snip

There may be others aiding N. Korea. I am not sure just what is going. One think I do know, there is a lot more going on than we hear about ... but that is always true.

God hasn't told us what He plans to do. Not in the short term, that is.

Yes, indeed there may be "others" aiding N. Korea. Yes, all countries *think* they will do what they believe is in their best interests. Begs the question. Who's actually in control of the flow of human events?

And one more..............

Is a short term all we have left?

 

[Arbo]

I have been thinking this over since it began and I cannot figure which scenario is closest to the truth. Here are the scenarios I have thought that might be behind N. Korea and the current problems.

• North Korea is continuing playing "bad guy" -- "good guy", i.e. we will stop being a bad guy if you will lift the sanctions and give us tons of aid.
• China is backing N. Korea to see how far we can be pushed.
• Iran is backing N. Korea, attempting to reduce our attention to their nuclear program.
• The N. Korean hard line generals are setting it up to overthrow the "new boy" and take over.

All valid points.

As to the third, I cannot help but wonder what part Russia has in this, being freindly with Iran as they are.

 

[saturneptune]

Yes, Arbo, Russia is an important piece of this puzzle. Both Russia and China are lurking in the background as x factors and could go either way. I am surprised quite frankly that this has not generated more alarm than North Korea itself. Maybe I am living back in the 60s too much.