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October 10, 2006

It's Helpful and Encouraging

...to have the Chinese onboard.

North Korea must face “some punitive actions” for testing a nuclear device, China’s U.N. ambassador said Tuesday, suggesting that Beijing may be willing to impose some form of Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.

China’s U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters that the council must give a “firm, constructive, appropriate but prudent response” to North Korea.

“I think there has to be some punitive actions but also I think these actions have to be appropriate,” he said.

...While the U.S. and its allies want a swift, tough resolution, the question has been how much punishment China would allow. China has been North Korea’s major ally and a source of both food and fuel for the desperately poor nation of 23 million.

Wang’s comments suggested that Beijing will at least allow some muscle in the resolution.

...In Beijing earlier Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry vented its anger against its communist ally over the test for a second day, with a spokesman saying that relations had been damaged.

“The nuclear test will undoubtedly exert a negative impact on our relations,” the spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said at a routine media briefing. He said Monday’s test was done “flagrantly, and in disregard of the international community’s shared opposition.”

Wang went a step further than Liu, who said the time was not right for punishment, much less military action.

At the very least, there should be maritime inspections of anything entering or leaving NorKo ports. And perhaps some US light should shine on reports like this one (courtesy of Crusader) via China that will CURL YOUR FREAKIN' HAIR.
UPDATE: Senator McCain has thoughtfully blogged comments of his I spent all day looking for, because they were dead on target.

...The President is right to call on the Council to impose a military arms embargo, financial and trade sanctions, and, most importantly, the right to interdict and inspect all cargo in and out of North Korea. I hope the Council quickly adopts these sanctions, and that all members enforce them.

The worst thing we could do is accede to North Korea’s demand for bilateral talks. When has rewarding North Korea’s bad behavior ever gotten us anything more than worse behavior?

...Prior to the agreement, every single time the Clinton Administration warned the Koreans not to do something -- not to kick out the IAEA inspectors, not to remove the fuel rods from their reactor -- they did it. And they were rewarded every single time by the Clinton Administration with further talks. We had a carrots and no sticks policy that only encouraged bad behavior. When one carrot didn’t work, we offered another.

Enough vegetables already ~ on the bargaining table AND in government.

Posted by tree hugging sister at October 10, 2006 05:25 PM

Comments

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at October 10, 2006 09:09 PM