CHINA AND NORTH KOREA

Q+A: WHAT IS CHINA TRYING TO DO IN THE KOREA CONFRONTATION?

Chris Buckley

Reuters, November 29, 2010

China has launched a flurry of efforts aimed at easing tensions between North and South Korea and convening urgent talks among regional powers.

What can China realistically hope to achieve? Here are some answers:

WHAT'S DRIVING CHINA'S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS?

Since North Korea's shelling of the South last week, the public talk from Beijing has been cautious, simply urging calm and avoiding taking sides.

Yet the calculus between Beijing's response is clear enough.

China wants to avert a spiraling standoff between its two neighbors. It also hopes to avoid estranging North Korea, a long-time ally Beijing sees as a buffer against U.S. influence.

North Korea depends on China for economic and diplomatic support, but can bristle against overt pressure from Beijing and does not automatically bend to China's wishes.

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