TAIPEI – North Korea is positioned as China’s No. 2 threat after the United States, according to a recent document written by strategists of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and seen by Kyodo News.
It shows that despite the two neighboring countries’ traditionally friendly diplomatic relations, North Korea is seen, from a military perspective, as a threat in view of its nuclear arms and missile programs.
The document, issued in May 2016, is a wartime exercise guideline for preparing for threats from hypothetical enemies.
In their analysis of the situation facing China, the strategists cite “five potential threats,” the foremost of them being the United States and its “rebalance to Asia.”
Mentioned secondly is North Korea, which they note has declared itself to be a nuclear power and has established many nuclear facilities near its border with China.
