Trump-Kim meeting: What role should China play?

IT is remarkable that in the short space of three months, the political situation on the Korean Peninsula has moved from the edge of war into an unwonted atmosphere of hope.

The mastermind behind the entire show, from the Pyeongchang winter Olympics to the coming meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, was the North Korean leader himself.

It was Kim who sought North Korean participation in the Olympics, he who invited South Korean leader Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang, and he who told Moon’s visiting delegation of his interest in meeting the American leader and his willingness to discuss denuclearization, suspend weapons testing and accept the resumption of joint US-South Korean military exercises in April.

Through all this, China was little more than an observer. While China has long advocated dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, now that it is happening, it seems to have been transformed into a bystander.

The fear of marginalization in Beijing is palpable. While China had played a critical role in ensuring the survival of North Korea and the political stability of the sidelines while critical decisions are being made in Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington.

When Trump called Xi Jinping the day after his decision to meet Kim, the Chinese leader no doubt appreciated being consulted and said he hoped that the dialogue with North Korea would start as soon as possible.

The same day, the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesman, Geng Shuang, said that it was important for “all relevant parties” to follow up by making “corresponding and concerted efforts.” Chinese China would play its part.

Asked if China would welcome the chance to host the Trump-Kim meeting, the spokesman gave a cautiously worded response, which amounted to “yes, but we

After having been the guarantor of North Korea’s security—indeed, its very existence—for years, and after having acceded to Trump’s numerous appeals for help, China today is in the awkward position of not knowing if either the US or North Korea is willing to hold their unprecedented meeting on Chinese soil. Its level of frustration must be high indeed. But it is still sticking to its principles of preferring a negotiated resolution to economic sanctions or military action.

To remind the world of China’s contributions, the Global Times People’s Daily, issued a commentary

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