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Diplomacy to ease DPRK tensions

By Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-10 07:22

Hard-line policies won't help ease tensions over the Korean Peninsula, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday in an apparent dismissal of US Senator John McCain's call for Beijing to get tough on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

US Senator John McCain speaks at a press conference in Beijing, April 9, 2009.  [China Daily]

Jiang Yu, the ministry's spokeswoman, made it clear that China's priority is to get Pyongyang back to the Six-Party Talks, which are aimed at shutting down its nuclear program through diplomatic efforts.

"Neither pressure nor sanctions would contribute to the goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," she told a briefing.

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"We hope all parties would push ahead diplomatically with denuclearization efforts," she said, adding a stable Korean Peninsula is in the interests of both China and the international community.

Her remarks came hours after McCain, in Beijing, urged China to use its leverage to pressure Pyangyong on the satellite launch.

The former US presidential candidate, following meetings with the Chinese foreign and defense ministers, said that a stronger response, including UN sanctions, was needed.

"I want to say very frankly what we all know, that the nation that has true influence" over the DPRK is China, McCain told a briefing.

"And we have urged the Chinese to exercise that responsibility as quickly as possible and as strongly as possible, which in my view, they have not done enough in the past."

Jiang added that any response from the UN Security Council should be aimed at preserving the peace and stability of northeast Asia.

"The Security Council should take the overall situation into consideration," she noted.

Jiang noted China conducted multilateral communications with member and non-member countries of the Security Council after the DPRK's satellite launch on Sunday.

McCain also expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in the Six-Party Talks.

The negotiations, hosted by China and involving the US, Japan, Russia, the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, are stalled after five years of on-again, off-again meetings.

"I don't think the talks have been very productive," McCain said.

He said his disappointment was heightened by allegations that the DPRK has "at least exported some technologies," referring to allegations of Pyongyang's involvement in the Iranian and Syrian nuclear programs.

Professor Pang Zhongying with the Renmin University of China said it is "almost impossible" for China to support any new sanctions against the DPRK.

McCain, a Republican senator, is using the chance to press US President Barack Obama, a Democratic, to adopt hard-line policies over the DPRK, Pang said.

"Pyongyang's launch has given hardliners an excuse to say 'see, the engagement policy has failed'," he said, "so hawks are saying 'carrots are no good, now it's time to resort to sticks'."

Pang, however, said he did not expect the Obama administration to resort to tough measures.

Engagement will be Obama's choice, Pang said, noting combating the financial crisis is still the top priority for the US.