U.S. Government: China Readies Itself to Stem Refugee Flows from North Korea

China’s People Liberation Army’s takeover of the responsibility of border control with North Korea from the police in September of last year was a political hedge against uncertainty in North Korea, the U.S. government analyzed.

In “The Annual Report on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,” a Congressional report which was posted on its Web site, the U.S. Department of Defense said, “The PLA assumed responsibility for border security along the frontier in fall 2003, strengthening China’s ability to stem refugee flows or to respond to a breakdown of the North Korean regime.”

Commenting on its deployment of regular armies along the border with North Korea last year, the Chinese government said, “It is a general measure which had been planned for years under the new border security regulations.” However, analysts came up with a number of analyses, claiming it as a measure to pressure North Korea to open up to the rest of the world or a long-term contingency measure against a failed negotiation over the North Korean nuclear crisis.

“China’s leaders maintain that the situation along China’s periphery is basically peaceful and stable,” the report said, “However, factors of instability still exist in the region, including the potential crisis of conflict on the Korean peninsula.” The report also said, “Beijing is concerned that the North Korean nuclear impasse could lead to a crisis or instability on the Korean peninsula.”

“In response, Beijing pursued a diplomatic approach to help forestall U.S. military action, but has avoided taking real steps to pressure North Korea,” the report added.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com