- MENU
- HOME
- SEARCH
- WORLD
- MAIN
- AFRICA
- ASIA
- BALKANS
- EUROPE
- LATIN AMERICA
- MIDDLE EAST
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Benelux
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Poland
- Russia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- USA
- BUSINESS
- WEALTH
- STOCKS
- TECH
- HEALTH
- LIFESTYLE
- ENTERTAINMENT
- SPORTS
- RSS
- iHaveNet.com
By Sheila A. Smith
Korean Tensions: Waiting for China
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, after a measured response to the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel two months ago, announced Seoul's own actions today, including a freeze in trade with the North. Lee also said that should another such incident occur, South Korea would take all steps necessary for self defense. South Korea's military would review its defense readiness and, in concert with its allies, maintain its forces on a high state of readiness to defend the country.
South Korea has the full backing of the Obama administration. The
Clinton's visit to Asia this weekend provided the opportunity to shore up U.S.-Japan-South Korean coordination on the response to the North Korean attack. Her stop in Japan produced a strong statement from the cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for concerted action, and a reassertion of support for Seoul from Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. Despite recent tensions over Japanese plans to relocate the Futenma U.S. military airbase in Okinawa, the United States and the Hatoyama government have demonstrated an ability to work well together in time of crisis. In her press remarks, Secretary Clinton commended Hatoyama for his "difficult but nevertheless correct" decision to relocate Futenma within Okinawa prefecture.
But China seems reluctant to embrace a role in regional crisis management. China's reaction to the ship's sinking has been cause for deep anger inside South Korea. In the initial days after the incident, China made little reference to the loss of life, and Beijing's silence did not go unnoticed within South Korean society. When Lee visited Shanghai on April 30, China's president, Hu Jintao, gave him little reason to believe China would support a regional response to the incident. More offensive was the invitation to Kim Jong-Il to visit Beijing in the midst of the tensions.
The discussion will move next to the
Beijing must engage more effectively with its neighbors in containing North Korea's efforts to destabilize Northeast Asia, or it could end up facilitating the very conflict China says it wants to avoid.
Sheila A. Smith is a senior fellow for Japan studies at the
Available at Amazon.com:
At War with the Weather: Managing Large-Scale Risks in a New Era of Catastrophes
© Foreign Affairs
WORLD | AFRICA | ASIA | EUROPE | LATIN AMERICA | MIDDLE EAST | UNITED STATES | ECONOMICS | EDUCATION | ENVIRONMENT | FOREIGN POLICY | POLITICS
World - Korean Tensions: Waiting for China | Global Viewpoint