China Turns Away from Ties with North

A report on policy research and development by the Intelligence Committee of the National Assembly analyzed that China is transforming its blood alliance with North Korea formed through the 1950-1953 Korean War into a "regular relationship” between states.

This report, titled “Research on the Changes in China`s Policies on North Korea,” which the Dong-A Ilbo obtained, explains, “The recent policies of China on North Korea strictly base the goals and directions for development on national benefit and objective grounds. This proves that the policies of China toward North Korea are being transformed from a conventional special relationship into a regular relationship between states."

This report was written by Professor Joo Jae-woo`s team at Kyung Hee University entrusted by the Intelligence Committee of the National Assembly to stay in China from January 22 to February 3 and interview 16 experts on the Korean Peninsula, including QI Bao-liang, the director of the Korean Peninsula division of China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Prof. Gong Shao-peng of Foreign Affairs College, Professor Shi Ying-hong of Renmin University of China, Professor Cheung Lien-gui of the School of Communist Party China Central Committee, and Professor Zhu Feng of the International Relations School of Peking University, before writing the report.

China has been criticizing a military alliance as the remains of the Cold War and has been denying being in alliance with any other state but North Korea. Exceptionally, China has acknowledged being in a blood alliance with the North. China`s relations with other states are based on amity and cooperation, which is a weaker relationship than an alliance.

This report expects that "the economic subsidies supplied by China to North Korea will gradually diminish, and will be replaced by regular commerce and trade."

In regard to the possibility of intervention by China in case an emergency arises on the Korean Peninsula, the report analyzed that “China would prefer to take part as a member of a multinational UN force and does not hope to dispatch [its army] independently."

Concerning the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed between the two in 1961 which stipulates the automatic involvement of China in an emergency, the report concluded that “China will not actualize the clause as one intended to defend North Korea."

"It is obvious that North Korea is giving pressure to China, but China still has a strong will that it won`t give unconditional aid in the military field," the report added.

taewon_ha@donga.com