Chinese state-run news agency Global Times says that if North Korea launches an attack that threatens the United States, President Trump can turn Pyongyang into a parking lot. If, however, the U.S. launches a preemptive strike against N. Korea, China “will stop them,” according to the report.
Via Retuers
The widely read state-run Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, wrote in an editorial that Beijing is not able to persuade either Washington or Pyongyang to back down.
“It needs to make clear its stance to all sides and make them understand that when their actions jeopardize China’s interests, China will respond with a firm hand,” said the paper, which does not represent government policy.
“China should also make clear that if North Korea launches missiles that threaten U.S. soil first and the U.S. retaliates, China will stay neutral,” it added.
“If the U.S. and South Korea carry out strikes and try to overthrow the North Korean regime and change the political pattern of the Korean Peninsula, China will prevent them from doing so.”
As North Korea’s largest ally and trading partner, questions about whether or not China would defend them, remain neutral, or even join U.S. forces have been looming.
Last month the Wall St. Journal reported that China was beefing up defenses along its 880 mile border with N. Korea in order to stop refugees from entering the country.
Although technically allied to Pyongyang, Beijing wouldn’t necessarily defend its regime, but is determined to prevent a flood of North Koreans from entering northeastern China and to protect the population there, U.S. and Chinese experts say.
Recent measures include establishing a new border defense brigade, 24-hour video surveillance of the mountainous frontier backed by aerial drones, and bunkers to protect against nuclear and chemical blasts, according to the websites.
China has also been conducting live-fire drills along the border with special forces and other units in the area, including airborne troops which could be sent into North Korea at a moment’s notice. In June, the Chinese military held exercises with helicopter gunships, and in July an armored infantry unit was transferred near the border and equipped with new weapons.
Geared towards defense, border security, and swift action
While Chinese authorities have been preparing for trouble over North Korea – including the establishment of contingency plans for nuclear contamination, economic collapse, or conventional warfare, the country’s recent changes in force structure, training, and equipment are linked to a nationwide effort to replace old Soviet-modeled command structures and out of date hardware.
China’s contingency preparations “go well beyond just seizing a buffer zone in the North and border security” said Mark Cozad, a former senior U.S. defense intelligence official for East Asia, now at the Rand Corp.
“Once you start talking about efforts from outside powers, in particular the United States and South Korea, to stabilize the North, to seize nuclear weapons or WMD, in those cases then I think you’re starting to look at a much more robust Chinese response,” he said. “If you’re going to make me place bets on where I think the U.S. and China would first get into a conflict, it’s not Taiwan, the South China Sea or the East China Sea: I think it’s the Korean Peninsula.” -WSJ
With a preemptive strike seemingly off the table (or at least much more perilous to conduct) – as Dirty Harry used to say: “Go ahead, make my day”
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It’s what all scandalous unpopular president do – war monger.
Did you go to Salem just for Caramel Patisserie? Oh my.
Started smelling obama&co recently
The slightly flimsy nuke-miniaturization NK report. The yakking from “NK” about Trump’s golf!? (Uh, kind of the generic punching bag against Obama, a little linguistic gamesmanship?) This statement from NK on trump: “sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason” Kind of sound like obama pre 16 election? China as a spokesmouth now? for the globalists? saying don’t preemptive strike the chessboard? Think it’s all about a crazy man acting alone in NK?
The main stage is BO sending Iran $150 billion on an airplane his last day in office. If we obliterate NK can you imagine the message that will send to Iran ?
Unless it’s in writing and signed as a treaty b/w two countries, it’s all bullshit. And even then the agreement is probably not worth the paper it’s on. Is anybody taking this MSM nonsense seriously..?
Showtime tell me you made some green on TVIX today. You fucking better have.
Have you looked at those NK soldiers? They must weigh all of 95 pounds. And the last communication did not come from Kim, but a propaganda outlet.
So let’s just say that Kim is a paranoid psycho, screwed down inside of a mountain somewhere and if you are a civilian and hungry, the only thing on your mind is eating.
If we sent a shipment of bento boxes over there they would pledge allegiance to the flag of the USof A real quick.
Look at the bigger picture.
China feeling the pressure. Their aggression has pissed off Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, S Korea, Taiwan, others. Today they make a statement.
Russia isolated by the US – do you think this was an accident? India hitting China’s southern flank in Bhutan. Russia sealed off the west flank. US, Japan, S Korea hitting the east flank. Vietnam standing firm.
Where is the beating heart of globalism? Looking at global trade flows: Cui bono it is Germany and China. Interesting that the Russian sanctions hit Germany hard – maybe harder than Russia.
This is about restoring the republic folks and destroying globalism. Germany and China are the targets. N. Korea is the pressure point. Global strategy behind it all.
Good analysis gents.
I would only add that China isn’t going to publicly throw an ally (even N. Korea) under the bus.
China must come out of this with the appearance of a neutral position, and when negotiations begin, they will most likely be held in Beijing.
Also US/Russia are tidying up the Middle East disaster left by Obama and Bush but we are witnessing their long term pivot to the Asia Pacific and Central Asian theatres. ISIS almost gone, 6 months into Trump’s administration, and there will be many negotiated settlements there too. Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, north Africa to return to stability and prosperity under Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia as regional powers. Saudi Arabia being told more exporting radical Islam – this is the reason for regime instability there. Tillerson will go down as perhaps the greatest Secretary of State in US history.
Correction: Saudi Arabia being told NO more exporting radical Islam …