Minister reaffirms China ties to N Korea

From: The Sydney Morning Herald | Nov. 24, 2009
By: JOHN GARNAUT | HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BEIJING: China's Defence Minister, Liang Guanglie, has reaffirmed Beijing's military alliance with Pyongyang, and he has been quoted as saying the relationship was ''sealed with blood'' during the Korean War.

The comments appear to undermine efforts by the US President, Barack Obama, in Beijing last week to enlist China's support for nuclear non-proliferation efforts against North Korea.

They follow a series of Chinese overtures to North Korea and other nations that Washington regards as ''problem states'', including Sudan and Iran.

''No force on Earth can break the unity of the armies and peoples of the two countries, and it will last forever,'' Pyongyang's Central News Agency quoted General Liang, who serves with the People's Liberation Army,

as saying.

General Liang was quoted as saying he had ''witnessed for himself'' how friendly relations between the two nations were ''sealed in blood'' while he served as a soldier during the Korean War.

The Chinese news agency Xinhua did not carry the same comments but paraphrased General Liang as saying: ''The traditional friendship between the two countries is rooted in the peoples' hearts and has withstood the passing of time and international turmoil, and has now became treasure shared by both. In the past year [it] has shown vigorous life and vitality under the warm care and powerful promotion by the two country's leaders.''

In Beijing last week Mr Obama placed great weight on persuading China to agree in-principle to tough measures to isolate North Korea and Iran if they did not agree to wind back their nuclear programs.

He praised Beijing's co-operation on both fronts, although there was a large distance between his threats to ''isolate'' both nations if they failed to comply and the emphasis of China's President, Hu Jintao, on ''dialogue''.

Western analysts said General Liang's comments would further strain Washington's efforts to engage Beijing.

While Mr Obama was in Beijing, China's security chief, Zhou Yongkang, led a delegation to Sudan to cement oil and diplomatic co-operation. China has also signed a series of oil and gas deals with Iran.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at the People's University, said General Liang's comments reflected Chinese anxiety about the intentions behind a visit to Pyongyang by the US envoy Richard Bosworth, scheduled for December 8.

''I hate to say this is competition with Washington, but … there is requirement for more communication and a reduction in strategic suspicion of the United States,'' he said.

Professor Shi said China had moved on from a domestic debate that followed North Korea's second nuclear test in June, when some analysts urged Beijing to walk away from its defence treaty.

''Now the situation is we want to win North Korea's favour and pursue North Korea by our diplomatic communication and by increasing assistance.''

Last month the International Crisis Group said ''traditionalists'' in the People's Liberation Army and Communist Party hierarchy had gained the upper hand over those in the Foreign Ministry and universities who favoured a tougher line against Pyongyang.