Opinion
Tackling the Korean Nuclear Issue
A Chinese perspective on the Korean nuclear issue
  ·  2017-05-26  ·   Source: NO. 22 JUNE 1, 2017

In an article titled The Korean Nuclear Issue: Past, Present and Future, Fu Ying, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, offers a Chinese perspective.

The article says China started to host talks on the issue in 2003 at the United States' request. Upon taking up its role as a mediator, China firmly requested North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons development while requesting other concerned parties, especially the U.S., to address Pyongyang's legitimate security concerns. But the deep mistrust between the U.S. and North Korea made it hard for any consensus made during the years of negotiations to be effectively implemented.

Fu observes that as the two sides reached an impasse, North Korea took the opportunity to move forward with its nuclear program. In the meantime, the UN Security Council stepped up sanctions, and the U.S. and South Korea have been carrying out heightened military exercises to exert greater military pressure on North Korea. Consequently, tensions are now running high and the channel for talks is closed.

China believes that peaceful negotiations are the Pareto optimal path. Fu notes that although it may not meet the optimal demands of any party, it would bring maximal benefits to all parties with a minimal cost. This would entail all parties, the U.S. included, to take their due responsibilities and make the necessary compromises. No breakthroughs have been achieved to date precisely because of the failure to implement negotiated agreements and the suspension of negotiations.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in China Newsweek on May 15)

China
Opinion
World
Business
Lifestyle
Video
Multimedia
 
China Focus
Documents
Special Reports
 
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise with Us
Subscribe
Partners: China.org.cn   |   China Today   |   China Pictorial   |   People's Daily Online   |   Women of China   |   Xinhua News Agency   |   China Daily
CGTN   |   China Tibet Online   |   China Radio International   |   Global Times   |   Qiushi Journal
Copyright Beijing Review All rights reserved 京ICP备08005356号 京公网安备110102005860