quote:

Chinese Experts: War On Korean Peninsula May Come Sooner Than Later
Jennie Oh, UPI 12/15/2017

Chinese regional experts have warned that an outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula looks likelier than ever, despite Seoul and Beijing's agreement last week that such a conflict cannot be tolerated.

Chinese daily Global Times quoted Shi Yinhong, Professor of Renmin University, who said, "The possibility of war breaking out on the Korean peninsula has become the highest in several decades," point to the "vicious cycle of threats" between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Shi said that China can only delay an all-out clash between them as it is too late to turn the situation around. "China can only delay war, hoping that the detonator of the time bomb that is North Korea can be removed," he said.

Wang Hongguang, former Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region, suggested war could occur much earlier than expected, Chosun Ilbo reported. "It could break out tonight. It may come before March next year when South Korea and the United States begin their annual military exercise," he said. Wang cited a local newspaper article that provided a guideline for Chinese citizens in case of a nuclear explosion, saying this was "a signal conveyed to the North telling it to prepare for the coming war."

Putting aside the timing, Professor of Nanjing University Zhu Feng believes Beijing must brace itself for war. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, a "soft-landing" solution is impossible, he said, adding that "China must prepare psychologically and practically for a nuclear conflict, a radioactive fallout and an atomic explosion."

Last week, the Chinese navy began conducting a four-day live-fire exercise off North Korean waters while the air force held simulated anti-missile drills with Russia, The South China Morning Post reported. The joint exercise was aimed at repelling ballistic and cruise missile threats in the region, according to Beijing's defense ministry.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
That's kinda the point. It looks like the ChiComs are getting set to meddle before we have to - and assume all of the risks that come with meddling.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:We're still stuck in it, unless they are going to secretly evac 30,000 US troops and/or N Korea doesn't fire on the South.

quote:

Hard to understand what China gains by maintaining strong ties with NK as they are such a de-stabilizing force in the Region.

Unless the 'real fear' is a re-united and even stronger democratic Korea.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:The biggest long-term worry for us is that it'll slow down the eventual reunification of Korea.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:

quote:

Hard to understand what China gains by maintaining strong ties with NK as they are such a de-stabilizing force in the Region.

Unless the 'real fear' is a re-united and even stronger democratic Korea.

The problem is, of course, that the Norks are no more fond of the Chinese than they are of anyone else. If China does go ahead and attack North Korea to take out Li'l Kim, Li'l Kim's nukes, or both, then the ChiComs run a tremendous risk of getting bogged down in a long, expensive and bloody counterinsurgency war against the remaining Kim loyalists and any Koreans who think it's their patriotic duty to resist the foreign invaders - any foreign invaders.