Chinese state journal: N.K. inappropriate as strategic ally

North Korea does not meet conditions as a strategic ally for China, and Beijing should invite South Korea instead, a state journal in China has suggested. The academic journal “World Knowledge,” which is published by the Chinese foreign ministry, made this line of argument in an article entitled, “Creation of countries as strategic security hubs around China” published last month. A country as strategic security hub refers to a nation that China can generate support and use as a steppingstone in the course of pursuing strategic goals including those in politics, diplomacy and security.

In a written forum section of the journal, Li Wei, professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, defined as the criteria for selecting a strategic hub country: a country that is not in conflict or rivalry with China, a country that China can guide to confirm to its strategic needs, and a country that China and the partner state pursue common interests.

He said, “North Korea does not conform to the criteria for a strategic hub country, because (China) cannot lead the North (to confirm to its demand).” In comparison, he made positive assessment of South Korea, saying, “South Korea pursues common interests with China in terms of economic cooperation, North Korea’s nuclear issue, and Japanese militarism.” Analysts say that this means that while Beijing cannot afford to consider North Korea, which has shown disagreement with China as evidenced by the execution of Jang Song Thaek who was a pro-China leader, it should consider South Korea as a partner it should proactively brace for.

China is stressing the need for a strategic hub country because it has to counter the U.S. move to reinforce alliance with Asia through Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy. With relations shifting from one-on-one rivalry of China versus Japan, and China versus the U.S. to "force versus force," China also should form a belt of ally nations, the argument goes.

Participants at the forum singled out Russia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia as China’s strategic hub nations. South Korea was mentioned as a "sub-strategic hub country" along with India and Thailand. Sub-strategic hub nations refer to those that China cannot form close security and military ties but can maintain ‘goodwill neutrality.”

Gao Cheng, deputy director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, “If China regards South Korea as a sub-strategic hub country, China can loosen the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and pressure Japan.” He added, “There are a lot of controversy over how to define Beijing-Pyongyang relations at present, but under no circumstance, China-North Korea relations should take as hostage or limit China-South Korea relations.”