The Trump administration’s narrow-minded focus on North Korea means it’s taking its eye off China as a result. That’s a mistake
O n Saturday, the United Nations security council passed its most sweeping North Korea sanctions yet. The council banned the international sale of coal, Pyongyang’s largest export, and other valuable items like iron ore and seafood – a move the White House said could slash North Korea’s annual exports of roughly $3bn by a third.
The vote represented the culmination of months of Trump’s blandishments, cajolements and threats to Chinese leader Xi Jinping over how to contain North Korea’s expanding nuclear weapons and missiles program. And by once again allowing North Korea to dominate US-China relations, it represents a further strategic mistake for the Trump administration.
North Korea is a shadow puppet enlarged by American fears. This desperately poor nation of 25 million people captures Americans’ attention because of its government’s belligerence, missile and nuclear weapons capability, and ability to wreak havoc on South Korea, a key US ally.
Yet China, which boasts 1.4 billion people, the world’s largest army, and the potential to supplant the US as the most powerful and consequential nation, is the puppeteer.
China has more influence on and leverage over Pyongyang than any other nation. In the extremely unlikely event that Pyongyang makes the suicidal decision to launch nuclear weapons at the US, China will go to war with North Korea – regardless of whether the missiles are successful. The determining factor in that war is the level of support Beijing gives the US – or North Korea.
China is not only a potential threat or ally to the US when it comes to North Korea. The country’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, its tense relationship with Japan and its current border standoff with India are all flashpoints which could exceed North Korea in importance, and all of which could drag the US into a war.
As America’s largest and most important trading partner, strategic competitor in Europe and Africa, and occasional collaborator in the fight against Isis, China has more influence over the US economy, global standing and national security than North Korea does.
