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The clash between the two Koreas over Yeonpyeong Island, which has so far killed four South Koreans, has once again been taken with a grain of salt by China. While the US criticized Pyongyang and ensured loyalty to Seoul, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei (洪磊), maintained the greatest of caution and refused to make any kind of assessment:
We have heard the reports regarding [the Yeongyeong incident] and we express our concern about the situation. The specific circumstances have not yet been confirmed. We hope that all parties remain calm and that we can work together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
In recent months, in which there have been several clashes between the two Koreas (the most important of all that of the Cheonan ship , which caused the deaths of 46 South Koreans) the Chinese government has always maintained a neutral tone. When something happens on the Korean peninsula, all eyes are on China, Pyongyang’s only half-ally, but it decides to look elsewhere.
For their part, most newspapers have dedicated today’s front pages to this new military confrontation between the two Koreas. Unlike many Western media, Chinese newspapers have emphasized the exchange of missiles. The most used headline, almost systematically, is “North and South Korea [launch] guns of war” (朝韩 炮战):
Other outlets have also emphasized the idea of blows. In general, one can see a much less favorable view towards South Korea and a more positive view of North Korea’s behavior. The Global Times , for example, headlined its front page story “North and South Korea argue that the other started first . “
Similar is the approach of the East Asia Economy and Trade News (东亚 经贸 新闻 报), which headlines ” North Korea and South Korea attack each other .” This newspaper also highlights that 300 projectiles were fired between the two parties.
China’s position in this crisis will be fundamental in the coming days and weeks, both in the face of the military maneuvers that South Korea and the US are already planning (which China tends to view with suspicion) and in the face of a possible sanction in the UN Security Council.
China happens to be Pyongyang’s only remaining ally in the region. During this year, Kim Jong-il has visited the country twice, presumably to ensure the succession of his son to the head of the country. Also, since the Korean War, in which China defended the North and fought head-to-head against South Koreans and Americans, the Chinese have felt great sympathy for Pyongyang. This is something that has also been seen in recent hours in Internet comments, with many users defending the “North Korean brothers”. [a good example of this sentiment was the recent World Cup in South Africa]
The Chinese media are also talking about an issue that has not been talked about much in the Western press, the sovereignty of the Yeonpyeong Islands . North Korean authorities have argued that they attacked South Korea due to a violation of its territorial waters and the provocation of military maneuvers in Seoul. The weekly Nanfang Zhoumo wrote that South Korea unilaterally marked the maritime border, but North Korea has never accepted it. Other portals, such as those of Sina and Netease, also speak of islands controlled by Seoul but whose sovereignty is claimed by Pyongyang .
As is logical, the concern about a military escalation has been in the last hours in the Chinese media. The place where they have been bombed is not too far from China and in the Yellow Sea, an area in which Beijing does not like to see American troops. Several experts, however, have stated in the Chinese media that an escalation of the war does not seem possible at the moment.
Regarding the reasons for this warlike confrontation and especially the attitude of North Korea, the professor of International Relations Jin Canrong (金灿荣) tried to contribute some of the keys to the Global Times . According to this expert, Pyongyang is using radical measures to attract the attention of the US and force it to sit at the negotiating table:
The identity of Jim Jong-il’s successor is already assured, they have to assure the regime. Apart from developing the economy, they have to break with their current international isolation. […] North Korea wants to use this method to get the attention of the US and thus reopen the negotiations.
[poll id = “5”]
Sources
► ABBAO : Chinese newspaper covers
► Global Times: Interview with Jin Canrong
Lo del asunto de la soberanía de las islas Yeonpyeong me suena a ciencia ficción. Vamos a ver, si ninguno de los dos Estados reconoce al otro como tal y se consideran el auténtico gobierno coreano, no va a venir de unas islas, ya sería la bomba (y nunca mejor dicho).
Tonterías y excusas para demostrar quien la tiene más larga y presionar al contrario en este (estúpido) juego de ajedrez.
En esa partida de ajedrez a la que hace referencia John acabamos de ver un sacrificio de pieza por parte de los surcoreanos, blancas, provocando el nerviosismo de los norcoreanos, negras, debilitando su flanco de dama y permitiendo la incursión hasta el fondo del Mar Amarillo de un Portaviones Nuclear americano, aprovechando el dolor de las víctimas, que va a hacer saltar el tablero, las piezas, los jugadores y a los mismisimos espectadores. El domingo sí que veremos quién la tiene más larga como se pongan a hacerle aspavientos y juegos malabares de nuevo a los norcoreanos. Por cierto, ¿qué hacian los surcoreanos alrededor de una isla habitada practicando con fuego real? ¿no habia otro sitio para disparar?. No sé tú, pero si se me pone enfrente un tío haciéndome como que me va a pegar, me adelanto un paso y le reviento los morros…por si las moscas y por soberanía de mi espacio vital!!!
por otro lado, ¿cómo pueden los surcoreanos ser tan inconsicentes de tener civiles en una isla situada en la zona más militarizada de mundo? Militares vale, pero civiles es un suicidio… A menos que les interese tener víctimas civiles como pretexto para…
Lo cierto es que todos los análisis de tan profundos "analistas internacionales" se quedan en pura retórica, por no decir mamarrachadas, ante un sólo hecho: Corea del Sur fue quién abrió fuego real desde la Isla hacia aguas que Corea del Norte considera de su soberanía, es decir, Corea del Sur fue la que violó el Armisticio de 1953, es decir, Corea del Sur ha sido la provocadora de la situación, Corea del Sur ha roto el statu quo. Pero de ocultar todo eso se ha encargado la prensa, dizque libre, vendida a los americanos, directos beneficiarios del acto de provocación de sus aliados. La primera víctima de la guerra es la verdad. Quid prodest.
El armisticio de 1953 es pura paja, y las actitudes de uno y otro igual. Pero en el caso del sur tiene delito, si sabes que tu vecino es un psicópata al que no le gusta que le toques sus flores, ¿por qué se las tocas si no es para provocar una (mala) reacción?.
es una tonteria…. solamente morira mas personas y no ayuda nada…. si corea de norte quiere llamar atencion podria usar otra forma… no haga algo asi para que sufren civiles… que barbaridad!!!