Op-Ed Contributors

Korean issue calls for talks

By Lu Chao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-14 08:09

The exchange of fire between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Nov 23 was followed by trading of charges between the two sides and the condemnation of Pyongyang by the West, with the United States taking the lead.

Surprisingly, the US, the ROK and Japan have criticized China, too, for the escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula. They are pressuring China to side with the "international community" against the DPRK. The subtext of their criticism is that if China does not side with them, they would assume it is helping the DPRK. In other words, their aim is to tarnish China's image as a peaceful rising power.

The US and the ROK have held joint military drills in the Yellow Sea, consolidating their military alliance. And during the recent US-Japan joint military exercise, Japan for the first time proposed considering "China as an imaginary enemy", reflecting the nature of the two countries' ties.

The exchange of fire between the DPRK and the ROK is unfortunate and the civilian causalities a tragedy. Given the complicated context of the skirmish and with the two countries sticking to their arguments, it is unrealistic to take sides with one or the other. Besides, taking sides will not help defuse the tension on the peninsula.

It is preposterous to accuse China of "harboring" the DPRK, and it is wrong to assume that Beijing could pressure Pyongyang into changing its stance. As a responsible power, China has always taken a non-partisan stance in disputes between other countries, and the US, the ROK and Japan cannot force it to do what they want.

China condemns any provocation that threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula irrespective of whether it comes from the DPRK or the ROK. Neither Pyongyang nor Seoul wants to heighten tension further, and a full-scale war on the peninsula would not be in the interest of Washington or Tokyo, either.

To prevent the situation from deteriorating further, China has been busy urging the other parties to exercise calm and take measures to resolve the issue through dialogue. Earlier this month, China proposed a six-party emergency meeting, saying consultations could help ease tension on the peninsula and create conditions for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. Even though China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo emphasized that the proposed emergency meeting did not necessarily mean resumption of the Six-Party Talks, the US, Japan and the ROK ignored the appeal, and decided to take a tough stand against the DPRK.

Experience shows that large-scale military exercises have not acted as deterrent for the DPRK. On the contrary, such drills could make the DPRK more determined to develop nuclear weapons, which is not what the international community, including China, wants.

By holding joint military drills, the US and its allies are testing the patience of China, too, even though they say the military exercises are not "targeted at China". This reminds one of the Cold War days.

The Six-Party Talks is the only platform for dialogue and consultation that can resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and the US, the ROK and Japan have to return to the negotiation table if they really want to see peace and stability return to the peninsula.

The meeting among the US, the ROK and Japan in Washington on Dec 6 did nothing to ease the tension on the Korean Peninsula. Their three-party alliance, which has discarded China, the DPRK and Russia, can only complicate the Korean Peninsula issue further.

But there is still a silver lining in the dark clouds hovering over Northeast Asia. The ROK and the US have not completely denied the positive role of the Six-Party Talks and the DPRK is willing to return to negotiations. These raise hopes that the issue could still be resolved through dialogue. But for that, all the parties have to approach the negotiations with mutual trust and mutual respect. Trying to force one party to "apologize" and "plead guilty" will not resolve the issue.

The US has wrongly assumed that China's proposal of holding a six-party emergency meeting is a "consolation" for the DPRK. It should understand that only talks can make the DPRK realize the importance of denuclearization and the subsequent improvement in Washington-Pyongyang relations and restoration of peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

But the US is averse to returning to the Six-Party Talks and hold negotiations with China, Russia, and especially with the DPRK on the basis of equality. It is interested only in strengthening its alliances with Japan and the ROK, and pressuring China and Russia to "force" the DPRK into submission, disregarding Pyongyang's security concerns. The US' stance is a deviation from the ideals of the joint statement issued by the Six-Party Talks.

Probably, some US politicians still hope military tactics can yield the results they desire. But they are wrong. Strong-arm tactics have never solved any problem.

China believes only peaceful talks can resolve the Korean Peninsula issue and hopes the Six-Party Talks would resume soon.

The author is director of Border Area Research Institute, affiliated to the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.