Despite differences in priorities, the two powers have come together to deal with Pyongyang’s challenge, analysts say
The rising crisis over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions has forced China and the United States to work together – at least for now – but tensions remain high in the Korean Peninsula. Regional observers say the two powers have come together in an effort to deal with North Korea. “Both nations have been continuing to coordinate on the North Korea issues after the Trump-Xi summit as there is a gap in the understanding between the two governments, ” said Li Kaisheng, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. “Trump is tough on North Korea and the Chinese government needs to express its own position as an unstable Korean Peninsula is the last thing Beijing wants, so frequent negotiation within a short period of time is necessary.” Though China and the US differed on their priorities on the North Korean crisis, the issue was where both sides could find common ground, according to Sun Xingjie, a Korean affairs expert from Jilin University. This was especially so compared with other more contentious issues such as the South China Sea and trade, he said. China’s biggest concern was a new nuclear test by Pyongyang, while the US was more worried about the North’s inter-continental missile capabilities, he added. “One of the major changes [after the Mar-a-Lago summit] is that China and the US are willing to team up in the face of the challenge from North Korea, and together draw a red line against the North, ” Sun said.
