China 'plans to send troops into North Korea'
Pastor Dale Morgan
China 'plans to send troops into North Korea'*
By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 2:10am GMT 10/01/2008
China is planning to send troops into North Korea to restore order and
secure its nuclear arsenal in the event of the regime’s collapse.
According to a new report, Beijing would send in the People’s Liberation
Army if it felt threatened by a rapid breakdown in Kim Jong-il’s rule
over the country.
China would consider acting unilaterally,
the report indicated
China would seek to win the backing of the United Nations first, but
would be prepared to act unilaterally if necessary.
“If the international community did not react in a timely manner as the
internal order in North Korea deteriorated rapidly, China would seek to
take the initiative in restoring stability,” said the report by two
Washington think-tanks.
Based on extensive interviews conducted in China, including with PLA
academics, the report’s findings back up previous indications of China’s
major change in attitude to Kim Jong-il after the North Korean nuclear
test of October 2006, and also demonstrate its willingness to assert
itself in international affairs.
Separately, Beijing today announced its ambitions in space for the
coming year, including the launch of 15 rockets and 17 satellites as
well as its first space walk.
According to PLA academics quoted by the report, which was written by
the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the US Institute
of Peace, the army has three “missions” in a failing North Korea.
One would be humanitarian — to deal with refugees or the consequences of
natural disaster.
The second is peacekeeping and maintaining order, and the third requires
it to deal with contamination from a military strike on North Korea’s
nuclear facilities, and to secure nuclear weapons and materials to
prevent them getting into the “wrong hands”.
The report said that there were disagreements among its sources as to
whether China still wished to preserve its “special relationship” with
North Korea, the only country with which it has a formal, mutual defence
alliance.
But they agreed that Beijing would neither intervene to replace Kim
Jong-il, nor to prevent him being replaced by others.
The Chinese government’s prime concern was stability, though there was
thought to be no immediate danger of a breakdown.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman said she had “no knowledge” of the
plan, but did not deny its existence.
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing’s
People’s University, said the plan might have been drawn up when the
North Korean regime was under greater pressure than now.
It was still unclear how it would react in future, though. “China, as
with other powers, is a little confused about this,” he said.