What if worst comes to worst with North Korea? China ‘must be ready’ for war on the peninsula

SCMP ^ | 24 September, 2017 | Liu Zhen

[TigerLikesRooster]

What if worst comes to worst with North Korea? China ‘must be ready’ for war on the peninsula

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 24 September, 2017, 10:03pm
UPDATED : Monday, 25 September, 2017, 9:25am

Beijing needs to come up with backup plans – either on its own or with Washington and Seoul – in case the crisis on the Korean peninsula escalates into conflict, a leading Chinese analyst has warned.

But other observers said it was still too early to discuss a post-war Pyongyang with other countries, insisting there is no sign of the North Korean regime falling.

In an article published in Australia-based online magazine East Asia Forum earlier this month, Peking University international relations professor Jia Qingguo called on China to work with the United States and South Korea on contingency plans.

Analysts said it was rare for such a subject to be raised so publicly by a Chinese academic. In his article, Jia said four major areas needed to be addressed: North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, an influx of refugees, restoration of social order, and post-crisis political arrangements on the peninsula.

“So far Beijing has resisted the idea for fear of upsetting and alienating Pyongyang. But, given recent developments, Beijing may have no better choice than to start talking with Washington and Seoul,” Jia wrote. “When war becomes a real possibility, China must be prepared.”

He said that if the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fell, most likely as a result of a US military strike, either China or the United States should be ready to manage North Korea’s nuclear facilities to prevent the spread of the weapons.

A safety zone should be set up in northeast China to shelter North Korean refugees, and Beijing should talk to Washington about whether to accept a unified Korea.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[mrsmith]

“What do we get?”
That’s all China is interested in.
They’ll be rolling over the Yalu as soon and as far as they can when the flag drops.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Tongil!

[DIRTYSECRET]

If the SHTF China better stay out of our way. The only consideration would be an attack started by the north. We take care of business and they clean up the mess. They certainly haven’t been much help up to now unless there’s something we don’t know about.

[Pelham]

As if this hasn’t been discussed by Trump and Xi for months.

[Jet Jaguar]

Bump

[DoughtyOne]

I’m getting close to being ready to sign off on dropping the NFL on North Korea.

[Steely Tom]

They’ll be rolling over the Yalu as soon and as far as they can when the flag drops.

They do that while we're in there, and every one of their submarines within missile range of the United States gets whacked.

[InterceptPoint]

As if this hasn’t been discussed by Trump and Xi for months.

++++

The response of the Chinese Central Bank speaks volumes for me. I think the Chinese have groked Trump correctly: He is willing to bomb North Korea and the world will get ZERO WARNING if he decides to do so.

Knowing that, the Chinese have decided to use the leverage they have with the North Koreans in the hopes that they can avoid the Big Trump Move. And they know they can't sit around and stall. Waiting to move is not an option for them any longer.

Trump is not Obama 2.0 and the Chinese know it. And he has a nice fleet of B2s. For all I know he might have a few B3s

[Gay State Conservative]

China doesn't seem to understand that there's a new sheriff in town.Gone are the days of that spineless disciple of Bill Ayers and in his place is a guy who believes that the United States *solves* problems rather than causes them.

China would be wise to put absolute maximum pressure on the Norks simply because it's in *their* best interests.

Yes,it would be understandable if they were to station many thousands of troops at the border to prevent a tidal wave of refugees.Once that's accomplished....lower the boom on them,economically and diplomatically.

[mrsmith]

They’ll be there before us. Maybe the ROK can beat them to areas South and East of Pyongyang.

[dp0622]

, insisting there is no sign of the North Korean regime falling...

Well of course there wouldn’t be until the first bomb drops.

[paulcissa]

I always thought the expression was “When worse comes to worst” indicating a regression from an existing problematic position. Details.....sheesh.

[southland]

If it is done right the war will last only one day with time for coffee after they Are vaporized.

[Husker24]

All China would do is put troops on the border to seal it. They might huff and puff, and put tanks on the border but they won’t invade to support N. Korea.

[Egon]

I always thought the expression was “When worse comes to worst”

You are correct. Was hoping I wasn't the only one to catch that.

[Dick Bachert]

[central_va]

Maybe we’ll get our tariff after all. I mean do Free Traitors™ think we can continue trade with a belligerent during wartime?

[lavaroise]

Let me guess, China keeps the nukes... smh. just like when we won the Cold War but Bush let the Russians get all the Ukrainian nukes...