Chinese President Hu Jintao and North Korean Supreme Leader Kimg Jong-il Source: www.koreaisone.org
In the Rising Powers Year in Review this week, we cited North Korean aggression as the most unexpected development of 2010 and China’s tightrope walk over the issue as a key dynamic to watch in 2011. China is at once the nuclear rogue’s chief benefactor and a rising power with global responsibilities; hence the high wire act. An interesting NYTimes article today discusses this very topic, noting how China and the US have been working together in recent weeks to rein in the North Koreans. The article also notes that China is currently focused on President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the US, which begins on January 18, coming off without a hitch. The Chinese government wishes to demonstrate to its people and the wider world that it has influence on, respect from, and the good will of the world’s only, albeit declining, superpower. The Chinese usually offer some concessions to the US before such a visit, and since observers believe they will be giving nothing major on currency revaluation, perhaps reining in North Korea is what Hu will offer Obama. I for one would rather the Chinese prevent a war on the Korean peninsula than float their currency any day!
Image above: Chinese President Hu Jintao and North Korean Supreme Leader Kimg Jong-il. Source: www.koreaisone.org