Although the U.S. views Kim Jong Il and his reclusive communist nation as an American problem, Monday morning’s North Korean nuclear test presents the biggest problem for China. Not because a nuclear North Korea poses any sort of military threat to China. Rather, China now has to answer for the country it has enabled to threaten the stability of Asia. Japan and South Korea will surely move to develop nuclear weapons to defend against Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Some fear the imminent international sanctions on North Korea could squash its economy and cause a North Korean military strike. None of this is good for Beijing, which has been a loyal economic and political supporter of its neighbor. China provides North Korea with 70% of its fuel and 30% of its food imports and is believed to have provided Kim Jong Il with the materials for its missiles and now, its nuclear weapons. Despite their historic friendship, the Chinese government has had enough. According to the Foreign ministry website, “The Chinese government is totally opposed to this act. The Chinese government strongly demands that North Korea honor its commitments towards a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula.” Though how strongly will they demand? Enough to let this rogue nation drown? North Korea has made China look weak. Very weak. The world trusted China to diffuse this bomb and now, both figuratively and literally, the bomb just blew.

•Taipei Times: China May Pay Dearly
•L.A. Times: Next Step Depends on U.S. & China

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