Sunday, October 8, 2017

Will China Invade North Korea? (Updated)

Flags of China and North Korea are seen outside the closed Ryugyong Korean Restaurant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, April 12, 2016.

Voice of America: Analyst Raises Scenario of China's Takeover of North Korea, Others Have Doubts

WASHINGTON — A longtime editor of a magazine that specializes in global power politics recently put forth a scenario where China would stage a takeover of North Korea, giving Washington and the rest of the world a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula.

Bill Emmott, the former editor-in-chief of The Economist magazine, said such a move by China would not only gain Beijing a solid foothold on the Korean Peninsula, but also the opportunity to strengthen its own geopolitical position, enhance its global power status, perhaps even the ability to claim the reputation of a peacemaker.

That is the “least bad military option” vis a vis North Korea, Emmott said, in that it would avoid subjecting U.S. allies in Asia, including South Korea and Japan, to North Korea’s retaliation that could potentially devastate large parts of South Korea.

Read more ....

WNU editor: Another must read post .... A ‘China First’ Strategy for North Korea (Bill Emmott, Project Syndicate). As to what is my take .... a Chinese invasion of North Korea will change the geopolitical balance as we know it, specifically the realisation that China will use military force to enforce regime change in another country. The military buildup that will ensue in Asia .... and the rush to form security alliances .... all of this will be unprecedented, and tensions throughout the continent will reach levels not seen since the Second World War.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

China invading North Korea and replacing its puppet regime would not bother me. They would be cleaning up the mess they created along with Stalin.

China invading North Korea and setting up a new North Korea regime that is no less bellicose or dangerous would bother me greatly. This would be especially true if they tried to pressure or falsely coax South Korea to unify with their new puppet.

Should the North Koreans be free and not be under a Chinese puppet regime? Yes, but you have to pick you battles.

Anonymous said...

Playing too much conflict of nations. North Korea has one of the largest standing armies in the world with enough firepower to annihilate 10's of millions of people within the first hour of any attack.

There are two options, you either preemptively nuke the fuck out of them or you leave them the fuck alone.

I say fuck North Korea, Mongolia is much more strategic importance for an army built on air dominance,

Unknown said...

"Mongolia is much more strategic importance for an army built on air dominance, "

Say what?

fazman said...

Paper army only, the south can spank them 5 x over in any conventional scenario.

B.Poster said...

"Should the North Koreans be free and not be under a Chinese puppet regime?. Yes, but you have to pick your battles." So true. I couldn't have put this better myself besides South Korea isn't even a particlularly reliable or trustworthy ally.

"There are two options you either nuke them or leave them alone." (Paraphrase) Leaving them alone is not an option. They've threatened to annihilate us. They backed us into a corner. Our options are dwindling and they are dwindling fast. Do they need to be nuked? I hope not but I am sure the threshold for the use of American nukes against North Korea will be much lower for Korean War 2 than it was for Korean War 1. Hopefully DJT really has upgraded the arsenal.

"Paper army only..." I don't agree besides overestimating our own capabilities while underestimating those of adversaries is a typical mistake American leaders make. It never ends well.

Unknown said...

"South Korea isn't even a particlularly reliable or trustworthy ally.
"

There is the raconteur that we know so well. I hope the 30 pieces of silver were worth it.