Bloomberg: There’s One North Korea Taboo China’s Leaders Won’t Talk About
* Military confrontation with U.S. likely if regime collapses
& Nuclear weapons, refugees top list of potential concerns
In discussions between the U.S. and China about reining in North Korea, one topic remains taboo: What would happen if Kim Jong Un’s regime collapses?
For years, China has rebuffed U.S. attempts to raise the topic at so-called Track 2 dialogue sessions between academics in each country’s foreign policy establishment, according to Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, who has led the U.S. side in such talks. Attendees included people from Chinese government-affiliated research institutions and military officers, she said.
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WNU Editor: I am sure the Chinese have already gamed-out what should be done if the North Korean regime collapses .... they are just not telling anyone. As to when will they start talking .... now that is a good question. My guess is that President Xi's and President Trump's advisers will have discussions on this topic when the leaders meet in November .... discussions totally off the record and in a very informal atmosphere (probably over drinks and supper) .... but when the trip has been completed, there will be a basic and superficial understanding on where both-sides stand. The next move is North Korea's .... and what happens there will dictate how China and the U.S. will respond. But in a worse case scenario .... where a complete collapse of North Korea has occurred and there are South Korean/Chinese/and U.S. forces in the country securing WMDs .... I am confident that there will be an understanding on what needs to be done, that they will cooperate and there will be no conflict.
