In April of 2012 and 2013, I wrote opinion columns for Newsmax, one entitled "China Must Step Up on North Korea," the other "China Must Stop korea Now."
In those columns I warned that without the U.S., and the world community putting pressure on North Korea through China, things could get out of hand — and they have. This was not prophesy this was looking at the facts as they were and for all the world to see.
At the time, President Barack Obama should have dealt with China aggressively regarding the rising tensions by North Korea directed towards the U.S., South Korea — and our allies.
The main mission of leaders is to avoid crisis, not merely respond to it.
China made a huge mistake in 1953 by allowing its ally North Korea to agree to an armistice. By not ending the conflict legally it allowed U.S. forces to remain indefinitely in South Korea. Had there been a definitive end, chances are the Americans would have not had the presence it does today and since 1953.
China is the only nation that has the power to reign in North Korea. North Korea could not survive without the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC provides as much as 90 percent of North Korea’s energy imports, 80 percent of its consumer goods, and 45 percent of their food needs, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
The PRC could bring North Korea to its knees in a week. And if they did there is not a single nation who would come to the aid of North Korea.
At that time China President Xi Jinping said at an international gathering, "No one should be allowed to throw the region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gains." OK, that was nice rhetoric but they did nothing but enable North Korea with that backroom encouragement.
President Obama needed to telegraph to China that any act of aggression by North Korea against the U.S., South Korea, or any of our allies would be considered an act of aggression by the PRC. China needed to know that there will be no "six party" talks. There will only be two-party actions, those being taken by China and North Korea to de-escalate tensions in the region.
If China did not respond and take affirmative and swift action against North Korea, then President Obama together with South Korea, Japan, and others should have called an immediate U.N. Security Council Meeting to make their case against China and North Korea.
The world now needs to gang up on China. They have allowed North Korea for far too long to act out in ways that are not only internally irresponsible but now have serious consequences to stability and peace in the Pacific Rim — and beyond.
The facts are clear. There is no way China would allow U.S. boots on the ground should North Korea make good on any of their threats of attack. If North Korea were to act out beyond its borders it would immediately cause China to become involved.
The U.S. the past eight years wrongfully allowed itself to be put in the middle of a conflict which they cannot possibly solve while China sat back and laughed up their sleeves.
The joke should be on them, meaning China. No longer will the U.S. be the "monkey in the middle." We need to make it crystal clear that China is responsible for North Korea in every respect.
The world’s policy toward North Korea should be that it would no longer be shaken down by Kim Jong-un's acting out, only to back down after successfully extorting goods and resources from targeted nations.
President Trump is right to finally place the blame for North Korea at the feet of those most culpable — China.
Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-2004. He is currently a professor of politics and public policy at Georgetown University and a frequent contributor to Fox News Opinion. Read more reports from Bradley Blakeman — Click Here Now.
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