The Calm Before the Storm: Beijing’s Unstable Role in Washington and Pyongyang’s Hawk-Dove Game
Tensions continue to mount between the U.S. and North Korea as the latter conducted its biggest nuclear test to date on September 9, 2016. Despite Washington’s growing concerns and motions for increased sanctions on the rogue nation’s accelerating nuclear program, Beijing has remained relatively silent on the issue. With the exception of expressing disapproval towards Pyongyang’s disregard for international objections, China has for the most part perpetuated its claim that the conflict should remain a point of contention solely between the U.S. and North Korea.
As North Korea’s primary ally, China occupies a unique position as the small nation’s most important lifeline. While Beijing seeks first and foremost to maintain its economic ties with Pyongyang, its bilateral relationship with the U.S. necessitates support for the economic sanctions proposed by the U.N. Evidently, the fragile stalemate between the three countries constitutes an unbalanced triangular relationship which will inevitably become increasingly unstable as China continues to receive pressure from both sides. It certainly does not help that Washington is taking increasingly drastic measures to assert its military dominance. In recent efforts to “demonstrate U.S. resolve against North Korean aggression,” Washington conducted several military exercises with its South Korean allies along the Korean border, in addition to sending two bombers over North Korea.
From China’s perspective, the game of chicken between the U.S. and North Korea is a result of unnecessary provocation on the part of each nation. Indeed, Washington’s escalating exhibition of militarization leaves North Korea no choice but to expedite its nuclear program, which in turn provokes more military exercises from the U.S. The unfortunate equilibrium that results from this hawk-dove game complicates the possibility of peaceful resolution between the two countries.