U.S. presses China for action as North Korean troops aid Russia in Ukraine conflict
The United States and South Korea have called upon China to leverage its considerable influence over Russia and North Korea, as concerns grow over Pyongyang’s deployment of thousands of soldiers to support Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine.
The United States and South Korea have called upon China to leverage its considerable influence over Russia and North Korea, as concerns grow over Pyongyang’s deployment of thousands of soldiers to support Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine. So far, Beijing has remained conspicuously quiet on the issue, sparking international unease.
Earlier this week, three senior U.S. diplomats met with China’s ambassador in Washington in an unusual meeting, urging China to intervene with North Korea to halt this alliance, a State Department official reported under anonymity.
At a Thursday press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the meeting, stating, “We had a robust conversation just this week,” and emphasizing that China “knows U.S. expectations are that they’ll use the influence they have to work to curb these activities.” Blinken added, “But I think this is a demand signal that’s coming not just from us, but from countries around the world.”
China has, however, maintained its standard stance on the Ukraine crisis. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, remarked, “China strives for peace talks and political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. This position remains unchanged.”
Reports indicate that roughly 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed near Ukraine’s border, preparing to support Russian forces. Beijing’s ongoing silence on this development has sparked criticism, particularly as China has historically enjoyed close ties with both Moscow and Pyongyang. Experts speculate that Beijing’s silence may hint at disapproval of this intensified military cooperation, which could potentially destabilize the region.
“Beijing is aware of the complexity and danger of the situation,” said Shi Yinhong, a specialist in international relations at China’s Renmin University, who believes that China’s silence may reflect a reluctance to endorse the alliance.
The silence from Beijing is “staggering,” according to Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University. He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping likely faces a dilemma: supporting Putin without alienating the West. With China’s economy under pressure, Wilder argued, “He’s not going to say anything publicly about this.”
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