Beneath the veneer of friendly alliance, North Korea has been a persistent thorn in Beijing’s side. Given that Chinese policy-makers see themselves as skillful practitioners of realpolitik, they should be well placed tointervene and press the North to negotiate an agreement that meets US and Chinese security concerns.
The most striking aspect of Beijing’s recent policy is the extent to which the North has behaved in ways that challenge Chinese national interests and got away with it. An analysis of some common Chinese explanations for non-intervention suggests that a change of approach is in order. Intervention is not a choice. Were Beijing to continue its present course, it would be to invite US-led intervention in China’s strategic backyard, resulting in a significant loss of credibility.
