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The reason I ask this is as I was reading a research paper not too long ago on North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the six party talks including China, I had to wonder why on earth it behooves the United States and South Korea to allow China in nuclear talks.
After all, as long as North Korea has nuclear weapons it is a thorn in the side of the United States, and therefore it is good for China's international regional power, and it is a feather in their cap for future negotiations.
If you for some reason doubt what I am saying then perhaps you might like to read "The Nuclear Doctrine and Forces of the People's Republic of China," by: Dr.
Mark Schneider (2007), for a fresher perspective - in fact, in the executive summary, as if to catch your attention he states; "China is the only nuclear power that is increasing its strategic nuclear forces, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
It is also rapidly building its 'conventional' missile forces.
These developments are linked to preparations for a war against Taiwan which China believes may require the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to fight the United States and, possibly, Japan.
Both the nuclear and conventional missile buildups are therefore aimed at defeating the United States.
While China would certainly prefer "winning without fighting," it is prepared to use nuclear weapons, if necessary, to win.
" Whereas, I fully agree with the author's opinion because I have read public statements by high-ranking military generals in China's red army basically state the same thing, I also understand that at times one hand doesn't know what the other is doing, and there is a bit of turbulence in the Chinese leadership as to what to do about Taiwan and the US backing up the island nation blocking any chance of near-term reunification.
Now also realize that this paper was written in 2007.
So, some things have indeed changed.
For instance, now there are political forces at work which appear to be toying with the peaceful and mutual re-unification, but make no mistake there are still tensions, and they are growing as China's military build-up continues with all of their neighbors sharing the same seas.
Obviously, if China is growing its nuclear arsenal it doesn't want to go public at the United Nations for calling Iran or North Korea onto the carpet for advancing their nuclear weapons program.
In other words we can't count on China to do what's right to slowdown the prevention of future nuclear proliferation.
Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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