China has called for a political solution to tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s latest test of a cluster warhead for tactical ballistic missiles. On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning urged all sides to address the causes of regional tensions and work towards maintaining peace and stability. Her comments came after North Korea tested the warhead on Saturday, claiming it could strike an area of around 12 to 13 hectares. Asked whether the test violated UN Security Council resolutions, Beijing stopped short of directly criticising Pyongyang.
China’s Strategic Interests Take Priority Over Condemning Pyongyang
China’s response reflects the difficult position it finds itself in on the Korean Peninsula. Beijing wants to prevent North Korea’s growing military capabilities from fuelling an arms race in the region, but it also has little to gain from seeing Pyongyang destabilised or pushed closer to confrontation with Washington and Seoul. A strong condemnation of North Korea could put further strain on an already important relationship. Instead, China continues to call for dialogue and stresses the security concerns of all parties. This allows Beijing to portray itself as a voice for regional stability without openly criticising its neighbour.
