politics

Abe calls for 'resolute' action against N Korea

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China supports (and tolerates the antics of) North Korea for 2 main reasons:

1) Collapse of the N Korean regime would be a humanitarian crisis with thousands/millions of N Koreans fleeing the chaos into China.

China's record on N Korean refugees now is absolutely deplorable. Repatriation is the Chinese government's policy for refugees who are caught, even though it means return to a labour camp or summary execution upon return. Have a look at the heartbreaking story of the Mofa Seven

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/seoultrain/update.html

A group who attempted to apply for asylum in China, were immediately detained and deported, and presumed dead or imprisoned. Needless to say, China has no interest in seeing more coming over.

2) Reunification will undoubtedly happen under a political system much more closely resembling the capitalist, democratic South. The South is closely allied with the US and, while not exactly closely allied with Japan, not the bitter enemies that the North (and perhaps China) would prefer them to be. China wouldn't want such a country sharing a border with them, if it can be avoided.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The US and China oppose each other on North Korea, Iran, Syria, Taiwan, etc etc What common interest do we share?

Economic tie so big that they can live without each other, just have a look at Apple, IBM etc.

In Afghanistan, Islamic extremists are common enemies of US and China.

While US is dominating in world stage, China only want some power sharing. Even US want China to take on more 'responsibility'. China is reluctant, it just wants to make 'more money'. Is it clear enough that China is not there to challenge US leadership?

China is not opposing US on N Korea. It is popping up N Korea so that it has a buffer zone with US. Though this is a very bad idea.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )

tian4670Jan. 10, 2013 - 10:30AM JST N Korea has never been Chinese security thread. Japan has always been, and it makes itself a greater thread now by increasing defense spending aiming at China. From 'national interest', there is little prospect that Japan and China can work together. US and China can, because they share a lot more common interest, though they compete in many area.

The US and China oppose each other on North Korea, Iran, Syria, Taiwan, etc etc What common interest do we share?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

America has already tried to defeat Korea, when it was one state, during the World War 2. We all know how it ended. Korea was separated into a democratic south part and communistic north part.

So I'd say the goal should be not to defeat the North Korea, but to create a situation when the North Korea would be absorbed by the southern neighbor. Such scenario happened to Germany, which was divided into democratic and communistic part. But the key element was the weakening of communist power, leading to the official termination of Soviet Union. And I doubt this will happen in a peaceful way. Especially with communist China creeping around and being a passive beneficiary of the current political state in Asia.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is he talking military action? I seriously doubt anyone in the world will attack a country that is armed (or suspected of being armed) with nuclear weapons. Plus why would anyone want to attack N Korea? What would they get out of it? There is nothing there anyone in the world wants. There are quite a few dictatorships in Africa abusing their citizens, but no one goes there with an army to sort them out, not worth the trouble. The only time it happens is when there is something people want (like oil in Iraq).

And there is no way the US wants to get involved in another war. There is no serious reason why anyone in the world wants to get involved in this Abe is trying so hard to create. The only way the US would ever be involved is if the NKoreans had a reliable long-range rocket that could deliver a warhead to the US which means the North Koreans, and theyd have to back that up with some serious warmongering to start a war. That isnt happening either. Abe is trying to start a fire, or put the fear back into the Japanese population to take their minds off other domestic troubles.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I guess China can use NK as a bargaining chip. Japan stops its claim to the Diaoyu Islands and recognizes China as the sole owner, and China can stop supporting NK and its nuclear program. If I were China, no Diaoyu, no deal.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tiger in Hermitage: "Fueling right wingers is a much easier way to gain political brownie points."

Well, fueling the right wingers on NK and the island issues is definitely one way, the other is to promise big business a lot of money and that you'll turn a blind eye on reactor safety to give them the green light.

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Traveling Sales: "The Senkakus were handed over by the US to Japan in 1972 and are covered by the treaty."

What does any of that have to do with North Korea?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Russians were in control of the Northern Territories when the Japan-US security treaty was signed & so the Territories are not protected by the Treaty. The Senkakus were handed over by the US to Japan in 1972 and are covered by the treaty.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Why Abe don't talk tough to The Russians who have a island 10 km away from they main land? Anyone can answer to this question?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Seems domestic issues are too much to handle for Abe. Fueling right wingers is a much easier way to gain political brownie points.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I just hope he still has the teeth when the time comes

The only teeth that Abe has are the one's the US will give him. He wouldn't even attempt to talk tough against NK unless he was confident that the US had his back.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Here we go again! What's Abe going to do? He says this, then fobs it off on others, all the while knowing Japan can do nothing, and the 'more resolute' Japan is, the worse the repercussions. Abe needs to understand, as do many Japanese, you don't make up with people by saying "It's my way or the highway".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan - an origami tiger. NK and China know that Japan cannot use force until it is actually attacked. He does need to take care of the domestic problems such as modernizing the elementary, jr high and high school facilities, classroom equipment and curriculum. Any ALT is welcomed to comment on any improvements (or lack of improvements) since 2000. When student sit desks from 1950 and boring textbooks are used by "teachers who teach the way they were taught," concern for a possible threat is minor. There needs to be referendum on the top 10 domestic issues that the government must address now.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think Abe-san would do better to take care of domestic problems first... such as suggested by the title right above this one, concerning the "sloppy" cleaning-up work of radioactively contaminated soil.

Talking tough on North Korea is easy. Abe doesn't really have to do anything except echo the noises everyone else is making, and it's never going to come back to bite him. Doing something about the mess caused by the LDP's big money chums in the energy industry is a bit more tricky. That requires difficult things like making decisions and carrying them out.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

N Korea has never been Chinese security thread.

Japan has always been, and it makes itself a greater thread now by increasing defense spending aiming at China.

From 'national interest', there is little prospect that Japan and China can work together.

US and China can, because they share a lot more common interest, though they compete in many area.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I think Abe-san would do better to take care of domestic problems first... such as suggested by the title right above this one, concerning the "sloppy" cleaning-up work of radioactively contaminated soil.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Abe sure barks loud lately. Against China's "trespassing fleet and flights", and now, N Korea's nuclear development. And I would expect a equally pungent retort from those two.

I just hope he still has the teeth when the time comes.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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