China Must Step Up on N. Korea

It is about time that America and the world’s community of nations holds China responsible for the illegal and provocative behavior and actions of North Korea.

North Korea's long-range rocket sits on its launch platform. (Getty Images)

For too long, China has ignored its responsibility for North Korea — leaving America and other non-Asian nations to be the foil for North Korea and China’s bad behavior.

Why is it our responsibility to police and discipline China’s problem?

America has let itself be foolishly drug into every provocation and skirmish that North Korea has plotted as China sits back and laughs at us.

The fact is that North Korea could not exist as a nation without the support and protection of their Chinese Communist comrades.

China is North Korea’s most important ally. China is their food supplier, largest trading partner, arms dealer, energy suppler and political supporter/enabler.

China has propped up and sustained the rogue regime of Kim Jong-Il — and now his son — while providing “protection” for them. China has run interference for North Korea — preventing and thwarting sanctions and other international pressure. The PRC fears a regime change more that any mischief North Korea has created — or will create.

North Korea’s bad behavior has been beneficial to China at times because it has preoccupied the United States and caused us to look foolish through our inablilty to have any positive influence on serious situations.

The six-party talks have become laughable with nothing to show for any “negotiations.” The U.S. has no business taking part. There should be one-party orders given by China to North Korea to live up to international treaty and law.

If tomorrow China were to exert its own political, economic, and military influence over North Korea, rest assured that the country’s behavior would take a dramatic turn for the better.

If China knew that the U.S. and the West would be holding it responsible for North Korea we would see a dramatic change. China needs to know that they endanger their relationship with other nations by their inaction and ignorance of North Korea.

China has put up with North Korea’s bad behavior because selfishly it would rather have an unpredictable country it can trust than a country it cannot “control.” North Korea allows China to focus on building a navy that can dominate the waters of Asia and beyond rather than having to protect its own northeastern border.

In addition, the Chinese are paranoid that a regime change in Pyongyang would trigger chaos on the border resulting in millions of North Koreans flooding into China.

How is it possible that China would allow North Korea to engage in missile tests and the proliferation of nuclear weaponry if they were not in cahoots?

North Korea cannot even provide for its people yet it has the resources to invest in weapons without the threat of a clear and present danger to justify such behavior.

Enough is enough. Now is the time to hold China accountable and responsible for North Korea in all respects.

China must pay the consequences in equal proportion to any illegal or immoral acts perpetrated or threatened by its North Korean ally.

Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-04. 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.