North Koreans dance after it was announced that the

country had successfully launched a long-range rocket

carrying a satellite into space.

After Rocket Launch, China Should Offer Pyongyang 'Sense of Security' (Global Times, People's Republic of China)

Now that North Korea has successfully launched a long-range rocket against the wishes of China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea and most of the world, should Beijing 'fall in line' with America and its allies in applying sanctions on the North? This editorial from China's state-run Global Times advises not, highlighting that such a reform of Beijing's foreign policy would destabilize the region and undermine China more than any other nation - including the North.

EDITORIAL

December 12, 2012

Peoples Republic of China  Global Times  Original Article (English)

Workers at a restaurant in Pyongyang applaud as they watch a TV broadcast announcing that North Korea's rocket launch was a success, Dec. 12. CCTV CHINA [STATE-RUN]: North Koreans display pride after the successful launch of a rocket carrying a satillite, Dec. 12, 00:02:07

After announcing it would postpone its Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite launch, North Korea suddenly carried it out yesterday - atop an Unha-3 rocket. It reportedly "entered orbit as planned" and the launch has been deemed "perfect" by Western analysts. The impact of the launch on Northeast Asia will be similar that of North Korea's nuclear test. It marks a breakthrough for the country in terms of strategic missile technology, and challenges the overall balance of power in the region, increasing the likelihood that Japan will abandon its pacific constitution.

The situation highlights the fact that China's capacity to influence countries in the region is limited. All parties are seeking a secure status favorable to themselves while squeezing others - which results in strong reactions. It is a vicious cycle that threatens the security situation across northeast Asia.

China would like to be a go-between, but no one [in Pyongyang] acknowledges it. China now faces the difficult question of whether to fall in line with the United States, Japan and South Korea by further condemning North Korea and imposing sanctions. No matter what China does, it cannot satisfy everyone. The root of the problem is that China's influence is not such that it can influence the situation in its neighboring country [North Korea].

Strategists in China remain divided about whether Beijing should adopt a new policy for the Korean Peninsula.

China has a variety of interests in the Peninsula. It must retain relations with North Korea while preventing its relationship with Japan and South Korea from deteriorating. China also wants to prevent the situation on the Peninsula from intensifying, lest economic development in China be impacted. If all of these interests cannot be secured, China should at least avoid being the target of escalating tensions on the Peninsula.

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China's strength is the decisive element of its national security. If it makes a large-scale adjustment of its policy in the region, it may signal inconsistency and destabilize the entire situation. Under such circumstances, China would benefit least of all. That is why China must not take a cooperative stance with the U.S., Japan and South Korea by imposing sanctions on Pyongyang. China will veto all radical resolutions made by the three countries. At the same time, North Korea should pay for its actions.

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SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Yonhap, South Korea: North Korea Long-Range Rocket Launch a Success

Telegraph, U.K.: VIDEO: Japan Condemns North Korea Rocket Launch

The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Continental America in Range of North Korean Rocket

The Telegraph, U.K.: Japan Poised to Down North Korea Missile

The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Nuclear Summit Must Resist Nuclear Power Mafia

Yonhap, South Korea: Obama Warns North Launch will Bring Greater Isolation

News, Switzerland: Obama's Best Option for Koreas: Send Envoy to Pyongyang

News, Switzerland: Pyongyang Makes a Play for Direct Ties with Americans

Opera Mundi, Brazil: Can America Secure a North Korean Nuclear 'Reversal'?

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Imperialist Sanctions 'Should Be Smashed'

Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia: 'Russia's Place in a Changing World,' By Vladimir Putin

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'U.S. Warmongers' Foolish to Hope to Change North

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: Why the Kim Jong-un Regime is 'Doomed'

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: U.S.,China Must Resist Urge to Meddle after Kim's Death

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany: Secret of America's Counterfeit 'Supernotes'

Korean Central, North Korea: The U.S. 'Should Be Cursed' By All Koreans

Korean Central, North Korea: 'Japanese Militarists' Prepare for Reinvasion of Korea

The North Korean launch undoubtedly adds to China's strategic insecurity, but it would be naive to attribute this to "failed" diplomacy on the part of Beijing. China should make efforts to offer the current regime in Pyongyang a sense of security. For example, Beijing can hold discussions with Pyongyang and other parties on providing North Korea with facilities to protect it from military attack, which would offer protection similar to that offered by nuclear arms.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has discomforted China and is a regional danger that is bound to make China suffer. Beijing must fallow a calm approach.

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