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| Written by Lee Byong-chul | |
| Monday, 10 May 2010 | |
 Beijing rolls out a red carpet for Kim Jong-Il
China's decision to roll out a glitzy welcome mat for the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has stunned and shocked South Korea's leaders, ignoring South Korea's anger over the sinking, undoubtedly by the north, of a South Korean navy patrol ship on March 26 with the loss of 46 lives. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was not given any hint from his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao at a Shanghai summit meeting, hardly a week ago on May 1, that Kim was on his way to Beijing. It was on May 2 that the 68-year-old North Korean leader's clandestine visit initially went public. Beijing's actions constitute the truncation of debate about controversial and complex issues over North Korea. Whatever China's motive might be, it is obnoxious for the Lee government, which has continued a decades-long effort to get along with Beijing, and which has vowed to investigate the mysterious explosion in a scientific and objective manner. In the face of widespread suspicion of North Korea's involvement, the highest-ranking political leaders of both North Korea and China have disregarded the South's concerns and hastened to meet with each other. Seoul believes that Beijing cut the ground out from under it in order to safeguard the status quo on the peninsula and protect the traditional relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang. People on the street in South Korea believe the cause of the sinking has never been a question of whether the communist regime was involved, but rather when and, more important, how. At a rare summit meeting with Kim Jong-il during his Beijing visit, Hu Jintao put forward five proposals to strengthen ties with the North. As expected, the proposals did not include the ship incident. According to China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Hu "spoke highly of the DPRK's active measures which have been taken to maintain stability, boost the economy and improve people's living conditions." In response, the South Korean vice foreign minister at a May 3 meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Seoul, Zhang Xinsen, expressed his disappointment and asked for clarification on the timing of Kim's trip. When China sent its ambassador to visit the South Korean unification ministry in an effort to mollify ruffled feelings, the unification minister pointedly stressed China's responsibility as a global leader. Although the Lee government later rushed to cool down the 'volatile mood' in the hope that China would offer more details about the trip, some officials I know did not hide their feelings, fiercely attacking China's hypocrisy. Given that the communist regime in Pyongyang has naturally emerged as the usual suspect over the sinking of the 1,200-ton warship, Kim's trip to Beijing was the seeming equivalent of a 'not guilty' verdict by China. The decision to invite Kim most likely will result in diplomatic troubles for the time being between South Korea and China unless Beijing can somehow deliver answers very soon. Most of Seoul's focus is on building international support for a new round of UN sanctions, but the decision to invite Kim is an indication that China no longer cares what South Korea thinks. Figuratively speaking, China usually gets both the first and last bite of an apple related to Korean affairs. Some analysts interpret Kim's visit as initiated by North Korea to test the limits of China's staying power after Beijing lost patience last year when the North tested its second atomic warhead. If the Chinese don't provide continuing aid to the North's disaster-plagued economy, the analysts say, refugees will ultimately pick up the pace of their escape from the country, which could collapse altogether. Maybe letting the failed regime die is the right decision, even though the collapse of the regime would be a huge blow to China. Some people point out that it is not commendable to confront China. In reality, China is a co-pilot together with the U.S. in dealing with Korean affairs, including nuclear issues and a peace treaty agreement. Obviously, China knows how to push a button to solve the problems facing North Korea if it wished to do so. China's influence over North Korea has grown in size and effectiveness, as if Beijing should be held to account for the continuity of Pyongyang's broken regime without the offsetting presence of Chinese power, unlike those of South Korea and Japan. It is no accident that so far, China has become biased in favor of the Kim regime. The fact that Beijing permitted Kim's trip demonstrates that the relationship between the two countries remains by no means a plaque that simply gathers dust in a closet. For more than a decade, South Korea has diligently pursued detente with China, with its trade rising sharply. South Korea is China's fourth-largest export partner and third-largest import partner. But from the perspective of the right-wing Lee government, the huge amount of China-Korea trade has brought economic victories but they have not been able to create diplomatic ones. South Korea takes it for granted that it is frivolous to be welcoming Kim when the South is caught in a deepening military drama that almost certainly came from the North. For Seoul, with its strategy for dealing with China now in doubt, Beijing has become an elephant in the room. Right now, everyone is focused on the blast, but the incident itself is not an immediate threat to Seoul. North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a more immediate and direct threat, and that is where China's help is most crucial. China has developed the ability to slip in and out of different worlds---socialism and capitalism, nationalism and globalism and North Korea and South Korea. There are still those in Beijing's corridors of power who want to wean South Korea from the United States while reducing North Korea to being a Chinese puppet state. In this regard, China's intended quiescence makes it clear that it is in its immediate security interests to try to make the Kim regime more prone to rely on China economically and politically, instead of standing by Seoul's side without knowing for sure who was responsible for the blast. That said, North Korea already became a blood poor nation governed through a corrosive mix of economic support spoon-fed to a unique dictatorship. While maintaining its unyielding support for the North, China has no intention of asking its ally to stop flirting with fanaticism. Now the security-conscious Kim Jong-il is planning to make an unprecedented power transfer to his son Jong-Un. A lot of foreign affairs pundits in Seoul believe that China will continue to aid the poverty-stricken North Korea, protect the post-Kim regime, broker negotiations between Seoul and Pyongyang and feel more comfortable in keeping the status quo than ever to opt for an achievement of a unified Korea in near future. China has every reason to support North Korea's efforts to reform its broken economic system, expand trade with more countries and maintain the socialist regime. But as a responsible member state of the world, China should ask North Korea to crack open its ossified systems, to say nothing about abandoning the dangerous nuclear ambitions. What China really wants should be the denuclearization of the North, not merely "no trouble." Unfortunately, China as the strongest guarantor of denuclearization on the peninsula is not offering the best remedy to resolve the nuclear troubles. At the same time, China needs to know that it has the chance to do more in the making of peace and stability on the peninsula than supporting the North playing stall ball. President Hu's most troubling North Korea test has just begun. South Koreans hope that he will show Oriental finesse, not quirks, that have been missing in Asia for long time in the course of modernization. Lee Byong-Chul is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Cooperation in Seoul. Comments
(21)
 written by Naomi , May 14, 2010
This is about China, not about M'sia
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written by SC , May 14, 2010
As I wrote below, I disgree with affirmative action projects. I don't think they achieve anything.
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And putting the events you have listed into perspective, they are worrying but isolated incidents. The vast majority of people in Malaysia seem to be able to live in peace and without fear. Anyway, I have nothing more to say on this topic, the article is about China and the Koreas. report abuse
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SC,
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In USA, at least blackman can become president... in racist malaysia, no way a non-malay can be PM not even a chief minister of certain states like selangor and perak where it stated in the racist state constitution that only malay is allow to be chief minister. in racist malaysia, most of the important contracts, portfolios or positions are determined by race and not by capabilities. certain government universities are reserved for malays and foreigners only, non-malay malaysians are not allowed to enter. certain government loans or investment are for malays only. certain business licenses, such as petrol station, bank, import permit for cars and etc are for malays only certain properties and lands are reserved for malays only. A compulsory discount of 7% for all new houses built in malaysia are also for malays only. report abuse
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sc,
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you are very wrong, not 40 years ago... the most recent cases - few months ago, several churches were burned by muslim - the cow head incident at shah alam - throwing of pig head into few mosques. - few years ago, Kg. Medan incident, racial clash between malay and indian, several indians and malays were killed in the incident. in 1987, racial riot almost happen, resulted several hundreds of politicians been detained under ISA. - In Sarawak, the indigenous tribes were forced to move out from their ancestor land in bakun project. - the rape of the indigenous school girls by loggers who were employed by the crony of umno for logging activities. report abuse
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written by Ying Yang , May 13, 2010
The Chinese in Malaysia are too soft.They don't stand up to fight for their rights.Many choose to simply migrate ...by the hundreds of thousands every year. That'swhy there are no riots.
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written by SC , May 13, 2010
I don't agree with your opinions so therefore I must be ignorant?
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Of course I have heard of the riots in the 1960's. But compare with: Taiwan = Anou people almost wiped out. Australia - Aborigines are one of the most backward people on earth, living in one of the most advanced countries. US = race riots far more recently. And who were the victims of Katrina? Not the whites... Thailand = maybe not a racial issue, but long running conflict with Muslims in the south of the country. I'd only agree with Brunei (which is 99% homogenous anyway?) and Singapore. In Malaysia when was the last time people were running around killing each other? Fourty years ago. The ethnic mix in Malaysia is a potential nightmare, yet the vast majority of people in Malaysia are able to live peacefully and live normal lives. report abuse
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written by YingYang , May 13, 2010
SC does not know that in Malaysia, the apartheid practices discrimination in educational and occupational opportunities to minorities, practices discrimination in issuing of business licences and government contracts. The force churches to operate in shop and office buildings, and sometimes totally disallow any churches in some areas totally. It forbids bibles in the national language. Christians can't even use many terms like "Allah" and many other words. Income tax and other taxes are structured to tax minorities the most. What the F does SC know about Malaysia? EVerytime the minorites speak up, they are threatened with the dreaded "ISA" to detain people without charges. The minorities are threatened with racial riots, code named "May 13" which SC may not understand.or heard about.
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SC,
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"Malaysia has had one of the most stable race relations of any country in the world." your statement is totally wrong, have you heard of May 13 incident? 1964 racial riot, Abuse of Penan, Kg medan incident and etc. Taiwan, Australia, US, Thailand, Singapore and even Brunei would have better racial relationship than Malaysia. Malaysia is govern by fear of May 13 incident that UMNO always used the incident to create fear among the chinese so that they will continue to vote for them. report abuse
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written by SC , May 13, 2010
Ying Yang,
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I totally disagree with affirmative action programs, as they only encourage people to be lazy. However generally speaking Malaysia has had one of the most stable race relations of any country in the world. Where else do you have an indigenous population, Chinese and Indian immigrants living mostly in harmony side by side? report abuse
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Same with Tibet. Give Tibetans autonomy WITHIN China (the official name is Tibetan Autonomous Region after all - what a joke), e.g.
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Most UMNO goons have deep hatred towards Malaysian Chinese but they love China Chinese prostitutes. UMNO goons hate Malaysian Chinese because generally Malaysian Chinese are better, smarter and fairer skin than UMNO goons.
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Most Communist china Chinese has deep hatred towards Japanese but they love Japanese products. Communist china Chinese hates Japanese because the Japanese had given them or taught them a really good lesson during the WW2 especially at Nanking and they remembered till today. report abuse
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written by Ying Yang , May 12, 2010
If China hasgot any social consciousness, please send in your troops to topple the UMNO government that is practising apartheid against the Chinese in Malaysia. If China can't do that, please f**koff.
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anti-communist,
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china is not only the largest exporter of prostitutes or hookers in the world. FYI, china is also the world largest producer of prostitutes / hookers. In our country, malaysia, MCA leader protest the import of house maid/helper from china. They single out maid from china and have no respect for china girls, women or ladies. however,the china corrupted officers still welcome her to china. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/5/nation/18218421&sec=nation report abuse
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written by SC , May 12, 2010
Closed to China econonomically? China is South Korea's largest trade partner!
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And based on what exactly do you claim that the US has a hostile aim of containing China? And you want to bring "all East Asia under Chinese influence"? Sounds very much like 1930s Japan. And to state that all of East Asia was under Chinese influence for thousands of years is absurd. China has only ever been united since 1949, or the late 1950s if you include it's current border. Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant! report abuse
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written by Geostrategist , May 11, 2010
After hesitating & pleasing the US & its bunch of facist allies ringing around China's eastern seaboard to the absurd point that DPRK was nearly lost to the evil West, I am so glad that this Hu-Wen leadersship has finally come around to its senses that it is time to put its foot down firmly in support of its miserably few allies.
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S Korea is only engaging in self-gratification & self-importance in thinking that simply by being opportunistically closed to China economically entitles it to claim the benefits befitting a true strategic partner while at the same time leaving intact its more importantly revulsive military strategic alliance with the US which does not hide its sole hostile aim of containing China. Chinese are no fools to think for any second that S Korean can ever be our good & sincere friend never mind all those earlier raffling of feathers concerning the history of Gogoryeo, Kanto & host of other contentious issues. Let us make it forcefully clear once & for all to the S Koreans : the dream of a united Korea under the leadership of the present pro West S Korean political entity is definitely off the table as long as a strong & united China is around. Just as the US & its allies work to dismantle a united China, it is every patriotic Chinese' iron will & desire to expel all Western influences from East Asia & bring all East Asia under Chinese influence like what it was thousands of years before the West gate-crashed into our domain. To understand more on why S Korea deserves its intended insults, if they ever were at all, read this link in Chinese http://www.accn.com/?action-viewnews-itemid-5998 report abuse
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written by SC , May 11, 2010
Confucious, how could the South join the North and then follow China's model, when it is already far more developed than the North and China? It would have to somehow undevelop and then develop again...please explain.
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And like it or not the Dalai Lama is the spiritual and religious leader widely recognised by Tibetans both within Tibet and in exile. Your character assasination of him is the typical Beijing line that tries to undermine his credability but lacks any substance behind it. The Chinese idea that only they can develop Tibet is very arrogant. If they give Tibetans proper autonomy within China, I think you would find that they would continue economic growth. The common Chinese idea that Tibetans are too retarded to develop an economy is nothing other than ignorant and racist. Xiao Yang, my whole point is that if China stopped being so stubborn, that they could do a deal with the US to bring about a resolution to North Korea, part of which would see the US military leave South Korea. There would no longer be any need for them there and I am sure the Obama administration would be relieved to be able to send the troops based in South Korea to Afghanistan instead. I maintain my point that both of these issues are resolveable if only the Chinese government thinks more long term and about solutions instead of control. report abuse
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Confucius, you are confused.....
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China is world No.1 exporter of prostitutes to provide services to all kind men including old men. Chinese prostitutes are everywhere in the world, even in South America and Africa. Follow China economic model of growth and have the whole world begging for your prostitutes. China pig headed government are irresponsible, corrupted, inhuman, hypocrite, big headed and selfish pariah. No wonder God punished them with so many natural disasters and accidents. Confucius thinks Chinese is under the good hand of pig headed government, isn't it an ostrich symptom where they are burying the pea brains in the sand and claim that to be comfortable. Chinese people are being oppressed silently and they can't do anything about it. China is not leading the direction what the people really want. Unfortunately they have no choice but to continue living in dire straits, silent misery. That’s explained why china is number one exporter of prostitutes in the world. Soon, china economy going to crash as their government are full of greedy corruptor and big headed officers. But they going to blame the US, Chinese like to blame other peoples, they blamed Japan, blamed Korea, blamed Muslim, blamed Dalai and blamed everyone except themselves Please go and do your homework before the world leaves you behind. report abuse
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written by Xiao Yang , May 11, 2010
The reason why China is nice to North Korea is because it acts as a buffer against the US outpost based in South Korea as part of its containment of China. So why should South Korea expect China not to be nice to North Korea? Maybe if the US stop using South Korea and Japan as bases and allies to contain China, then China can influence North Korea to be nicer to Seoul.
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written by SC , May 10, 2010
As usual China displays it's irresponsible and short term thinking. If they let the North's regime collapse, millions of North Koreans could start to have normal lives and not worry about starvation. Korea could unify under the South (which I am sure they would be happy with when they start to get fed), and the US military would no longer have a reason to be on the Korean peninsula, and would go home. Now that China itself is not communist it should not matter that there is no longer a communist buffer on the peninsula.
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Same with Tibet. Give Tibetans autonomy WITHIN China (the official name is Tibetan Autonomous Region after all - what a joke), e.g. by allowing the Tibetans to run the tourist industry, and problem solved. The Dalai Lama could come home as a Chinese citizen. But instead Beijing are pig-headed and cannot bring themselves to compromise even 1%. Not exactly the actions of a responsible nation or global powerhouse. If China wants to be a leader in world affairs then it should start acting like one. report abuse
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-full of corrupted leaders and officials
-have plenty of communist chinese