Comments by Jin Canrong of People's University on DPRK crisis

"China's approach towards the Korean peninsula is fundamentally different from that of the US – the six-party talks are not a way to solve the problem but to control the crisis."
He sees Beijing's long-term goal as helping North Korea transform from an ideology-driven country to a normal member of the international community and from a political system focused on the military to one focused on the economy – much like the path that China has taken over the past 30 years.

http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/948da54c-1374-11e0-a367-00144feabdc0.html

U.S. to Send Another Nuke-Powered Aircraft Carrier to NE Asia

"China's official Xinhua news agency said the new addition could raise tensions in the region, with the Chinese military already calling it the biggest threat to China and North Korea in six decades."

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/27/2010122701080.html

China Re-Thinking DPRK Policy?

"As evidence of the policy shift, officials pointed to recent remarks by China's foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, in which he urged the North and South 'to carry out dialogue and contact.'  Previously, Beijing's response had been to propose an emergency meeting of the six-party group that negotiates with North Korea over its nuclear program, a step the United States opposed as rewarding the North's aggression."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/world/asia/24diplo.html?src=mv

US downplaying DPRK threat of imminent "sacred war" with use of nuclear weaponry

@markmackinnon: More saber-rattling on the peninsula - North Korea says "getting fully prepared to launch sacred war of justice": http://tinyurl.com/2c65npe

Comment by me: This does not look at all good. If China supports DPRK militarily this could go from bad to about as bad as it can get!

Continuing Prospect of Resumption of Korean War

@markmackinnon: South Korea prepares to hold another massive military drill, vows to "punish the enemy" if North strikes again: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/new-south-korean-drills-near-land-border-keep-tensions-high/article1846703/

Comment by me: Current ROK assertiveness appears to be at least partially  a proxy for deteriorating faith in China's willingness to play a constructive role in global affairs

South Korea detains Chinese fishermen

@chinahearsay: South Korea detains Chinese fishermen | FT http://is.gd/j3yYR

This cannot be good.

Close to Resumption of Korean War?

Korean War could resume in a matter of hours. US troops in ROK could be drawn in quickly.

Later: RT @markmackinnon ... without UN action, Seoul has to go ahead or lose credibility at home and in the region. Expect North will also keep promise to retaliate

Later: @markmackinnon: It would seem South Korea's controversial drill is now over. No North Korean response. Did Seoul just win a terrifying game of chicken?

Monday morning: NYT "North Korea Says It Will Not Retaliate After South’s Drills" http://me.lt/4C0x0


My interview with Lynn Desjardins on the English Service of Radio Canada International on Korean strategic instability broadcast on December 20 can be heard at: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/column/the-link-s-top-stories/16-28_2010-12-20-korean-tensions-ease-as-north-korea-backs-down/


This is an excellent  analysis of the situation: http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/korea/articles/20101221.aspx

How to Stop the Next Korean War - By Andrei Lankov | Foreign Policy

For the first time in decades, a real war on the Korean Peninsula is possible.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/12/16/how_to_stop_the_next_korean_war?page=0,1

South Korea's patience with North running out

@markmackinnon: Dangerous times - After years of turning other cheek, South Koreans now want to punch back at North: http://tinyurl.com/22vtjtn

Vatican in new clash with China over church - Yahoo! News

"The persistent desire to control the most intimate area of citizens' lives, namely their conscience, and to interfere in the internal life of the Catholic church does no credit to China," the Vatican said.
"On the contrary, it seems to be a sign of fear and weakness rather than of strength," the Vatican said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101217/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_china

North Korea vows to strike if South holds planned live-fire drill

Situation continues to intensify.

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-vows-to-strike-if-south-holds-planned-live-fire-drill/article1841741/?service=mobile

Resolution of Human Rights Subcommittee on Liu Xiaobo

Resolution of Human Rights Subcommittee on Liu Xiaobo

http://m.facebook.com/notes/irwin-cotler/cotlers-resolution-on-nobel-laureate-liu-xiaobo-passes-unanimously/491280479280?fbb=r9847f2f4

timesofmalta.com - HIS IDEA OF FREEDOM

His Excellency the Chinese Ambassador to Norway was given space in The Times to react to the award of the Nobel Prize
http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20101212/andrew-borg-cardona/his-idea-of-freedom

The Nobel Peace Prize 2010 - Presentation Speech

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2010/presentation-speech.html

Nobel chief derides China's credibility gap

Mr Jagland compared China's anger at the award to the outcry over peace prizes awarded to other dissidents of their times, including South African archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/nobel-chief-derides-chinas-credibility-gap-20101210-18sxr.html

Review & Outlook: Pyongyang's Accomplice - WSJ.com

Editorial in the Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Obama is due to treat Mr. Hu to a state visit in Washington early next year. We suggest the President cancel the invitation until Beijing ceases to be Pyongyang's accomplice."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704594804575648473842565004.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

WikiLeaks: China's Politburo a cabal of business empires - Telegraph

Very revealing cable:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8184216/WikiLeaks-Chinas-Politburo-a-cabal-of-business-empires.html

Wikileak: Rudd conversation with Clinton about China

Highly recommend reading this.

@cburton001: Wikileak: Rudd conversation with Clinton about China http://bit.ly/fpNXOm

Václav Havel and Desmond Tutu on China and Liu Xiaobo's Peace Prize

@melissakchan: Václav Havel and Desmond Tutu on China and Liu Xiaobo's Peace Prize: http://is.gd/idCxz

China remains passive as Korean standoff escalates | McClatchy

Although the North and South have long traded threats, tensions on the Korean Peninsula now are at the highest levels in decades.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency Friday reported that North Korea had added 100 multiple-launch rockets to its arsenal of some 5,200 capable of hitting the South Korean capital. The agency also reported that South Korea planned to soon begin live fire artillery exercises near five islands in the Yellow Sea, including Yeonpyeong.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/03/104714/china-remains-passive-as-korean.html

Comment: China's political paralysis as the situation deteriorates is very worrying.

My interview on Radio Canada International Mandarin Service about North Korea

朝鲜炮击韩国延平岛之后造成朝鲜半岛局势紧张。美国和韩国在延平岛南部水域的联合军事演习也持续了四天。各方都希望中国能在朝鲜半岛的问题上发挥积极的作用。但中国究竟能对朝鲜产生怎样的影响呢？安迪采访了布鲁克大学政治系教授查尔斯・伯顿先生

http://www.rcinet.ca/chinois/chronique/International-report/11-04_2010-12-02-/

China blocks U.N. push for North Korea condemnation

Very disappointing.

http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B00A520101201?ca=rdt