nuclear test #3

The question came up so subtly that I almost missed it.  “Did you feel the earthquake? directed to someone describing their spring festival visit to the far northeast China.  Six of us were sitting around a small table at the Library’s English corner talking about what we did over the holiday break.  Everyone gets one week off and goes home, also known as the largest human migration on earth.  Many workers in China only get that one week off each year. 

Yesterday, I was sitting with a group of graduate students who I see almost every week, and we talk often enough that I’ve gotten to know and trust them over the past 6 months.  Still, I tread carefully when sensitive political issues come up.  The PC warns us to not ever talk about the 3 Ts (T---bet, Tai---n, and Tian----Square).  Even during our holiday travel discussion, T---bet came up and I lamely tried to explain why I cannot travel there since the region is currently closed to westerns.

So, I wasn’t surprised when the discussion turned to North Korea.  The earthquake question was asking if N. Korea’s third nuclear test was felt in this student’s hometown, close to the long boarder between China and N. Korea.  The answer was no.  Catching their concern, I asked about China’s response to the test.  “Does China support their nuclear testing?” They all agreed the country doesn’t support it.  “What is the Chinese government doing to stop it?”   That question they couldn’t or wouldn’t answer, so the topic was quickly dropped.

These students have concerns and, at the same time, they think they personally can’t do anything about those concerns.  For example, local people generally agree Chongqing has a pollution problem.  If asked, “Whose responsibility is it to fix the problem?”  They reply, “The government.”  They don’t see that they, individually, can do things to reduce pollution.   

In my western way of thinking, I wonder why the Chinese people are not going crazy about North Korea's nuclear testing.  Where is the popular outcry?  But now that I understand Chinese thinking a little better, I see people trust their government.  Which leads me to wonder why the government is not going crazy.    

True, China and North Korea have strong ties.  One article says, “China is North Korea's most important ally, biggest trading partner, and main source of food, arms, and fuel. China has helped sustain what is now Kim Jong-un's regime, and has historically opposed harsh international economic sanctions in the hope of avoiding regime collapse and an uncontrolled influx of refugees across its eight hundred-mile border with North Korea.”

Given that China has the closest political relationship with N. Korea, isn’t China in the best position to influence and deter N. Korea’s nuclear testing?  Another article gives a disturbing insight; the leaders “of Chinese policy have powerfully and consistently argued that the cost of North Korean nuclear proliferation for regional security and China’s international image is outweighed by the potential consequences for China of stronger pressure or sanctions on North Korea.”

That’s it?  China is trying to “save face?”  Ok, world leaders, do you understand?  How can the western world work with China, while preserving China's status and dignity, to deter N. Korea's nuclear testing?