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Abstract
There are diverging assessments of China’s role in resolving the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula. China’s role has been characterised variously as a bystander, arbiter, catalyst and mediator over the years. This paper aims to clarify where China stands on North Korea and assesses the different phases of the Chinese approach to conflict resolution during the North Korean nuclear crisis. The main argument is that China wishes to maintain the regional status quo while appearing to adjust its position in line with the international community. China’s current duplicity stems from its different priorities and concerns to the remainder of the world, and can best be explained using a role theory analysis.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
Notes
1 Fifield, “North Korea Is ‘Racing towards the Nuclear Finish Line.’”
2 Sagan, “Nuclear Latency and Nuclear Proliferation,” 81.
3 Pande, “North Korea’s Pakistan Connection.”
4 Manyin, Foreign Assistance to North Korea.
5 Corr, “Chinese Involvement in North Korea’s Nuclear Missile Program.”
6 Eleanor, “China–North Korea Relationship.”
7 “How the China–North Korea Equation Is Changing.”
8 Mastro, “Why China Won’t Rescue North Korea.”
9 S.-H. Lee, “Why China Won’t Abandon North Korea Anytime Soon.”
10 Harnisch, Bersick, and Gottwald, China’s International Roles; He and Walker, “Role Bargaining Strategies for China’s Peaceful Rise”; Michalski and Pan, “Role Dynamics in a Structured Relationship”; Uemura, “Understanding Chinese Foreign Relations.”
11 Holsti, “National Role Conceptions in the Study of Foreign Policy.”
12 Walker, Role Theory And Foreign Policy Analysis; see also Walker, “Role Theory and the Origins of Foreign Policy”; Walker, “Role Theory as an Empirical Theory.”
13 Frankel, “Role Theory and Foreign Policy Analysis”; Harnisch, Frank, and Maull, Role Theory in International Relations; Cantir and Kaarbo, “Contested Roles and Domestic Politics”; Harnisch, “Conceptualizing in the Minefield”; Thies, “Role Theory and Foreign Policy”; Thies and Breuning, “Integrating Foreign Policy Analysis and International Relations”; Walker, “Role Theory as an Empirical Theory.”
14 Thies, “Role Theory and Foreign Policy.”
15 Harnisch, Frank, and Maull, Role Theory in International Relations, 2.
16 See for an innovative theoretical explanation of how past self-esteem effects foreign policy: Clunan, Social Construction of Russia’s Resurgence.
17 Merton, “On Sociological Theories of the Middle Range [1949].”
18 Harnisch, Frank, and Maull, Role Theory in International Relations, 8.
19 Ibid., 12.
20 Harnisch, Bersick, and Gottwald, China’s International Roles, 3.
21 Oualaalou, “US Era of Dominance Is Dwindling.”
22 Poplak, “New Scramble for Africa.”
23 Phillips, “Xi Jinping Heralds ‘New Era.’”
24 Harnisch, Bersick, and Gottwald, China’s International Roles, 7.
25 K. Lee and Kim, “Cooperation and Limitations of China’s Sanctions.”
26 Osnos, “Biggest Winner in Singapore.”
27 D. R. Lee, “China’s Policy and Influence.”
28 Osnos, “Biggest Winner in Singapore.”
29 Kim, “Endangering Alliance or Risking Proliferation?”
30 K. Lee and Kim, “Cooperation and Limitations of China’s Sanctions.”
31 Page, “Unexpected Winner from the Trump–Kim Summit.”
32 “Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meets the Press.”
33 Eleanor, “China–North Korea Relationship.”
34 Taylor, “Why China Is So Mad about THAAD.”
35 Harnisch, “Role Theory, Organizational Actors and Regime Stability.”
36 K. Lee and Kim, “Cooperation and Limitations of China’s Sanctions.”
37 Harnisch, “Role Theory, Organizational Actors and Regime Stability.”
38 “China Imposes Import Bans on North Korean Iron.”
39 Harnisch, “Role Theory, Organizational Actors and Regime Stability.”
40 K. Lee and Kim, “Cooperation and Limitations of China’s Sanctions.”
41 Song and Lee, “China’s Engagement Patterns towards North Korea.”
42 “China Says ‘Dual Suspension’ Proposal Still Best.”
43 Kong, “China’s Engagement-Oriented Strategy towards North Korea.”
44 “China Hits Back at Trump Criticism.”
45 K. Lee and Kim, “Cooperation and Limitations of China’s Sanctions.”
46 D. R. Lee, “China’s Policy and Influence.”
47 Cantir and Kaarbo, “Contested Roles and Domestic Politics.”
48 Kong, “China’s Engagement-Oriented Strategy towards North Korea.”
49 “Speech by Fu Ying – Munich Security Conference.”
50 D. R. Lee, “China’s Policy and Influence.”
51 Lee, “Why China Won’t Abandon North Korea Anytime Soon.”
52 Song and Lee, “China’s Engagement Patterns towards North Korea.”
53 Myers and Perlez, “Kim Jong-Un Met with Xi Jinping.”
54 Harnisch, “Role Theory, Organizational Actors and Regime Stability.”
55 Blanco, “Is Trump Willing to Anger China.”
56 Eleanor, “China Has the Most Leverage.”
57 Kong, “China’s Engagement-Oriented Strategy towards North Korea.”
58 D. R. Lee, “China’s Policy and Influence.”
59 Bennett, Uncertainties in the North Korean Nuclear Threat.
60 Weley, “Why China Won’t Help US.”
61 Lockie, “China Could Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Threat.”
62 Xiaohe, “Evolution of the Lips and Teeth Relationship.”
63 Cathcart, “North Korea Doesn’t Trust China.”
64 Choo, “A Question of Leverage.”
65 Harnisch, “Role Theory, Organizational Actors and Regime Stability.”
66 D. R. Lee, “China’s Policy and Influence.”
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Hakan Mehmetcik
Hakan Mehmetcik is an assistant professor at the Department of International Relations, Marmara University, Turkey. He has master’s degrees in economics and Eurasian studies from Dalarna and Uppsala Universities, respectively, in Sweden. He obtained his PhD in international relations in 2017 from Yildiz Technical University in Turkey and his research interests lie in the area of international political economy, regionalism, globalisation and broader security studies. He has several major publications on middle powers, rising powers and Turkish foreign policy. He teaches several thematic and theoretical courses including Globalisation and Regionalism, Theories of International Relations, Theories of International Political Economy and International Security.
Ferit Belder
Ferit Belder is a research assistant at Marmara University in international relations and a PhD candidate at Istanbul University. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations at Marmara University in 2011. He received his MA in international relations at Istanbul University in 2013 and an MSc in international politics at SOAS, University of London, in 2015. His research interests include Turkish foreign policy, Middle Eastern politics, Israeli politics and security studies.