The rhetoric that China is responsible for North Korea.

It’s allowed — this sub is mostly politics.

But it seems to me you’re attacking America by making up a position you accuse America of, then direct your question at Chinese to preclude responses from Americans so you can, with fallacy, assert the truth that Americans blame China.

So, I’ll argue the American perspective, which I think is the one held by most all Americans:

You make it sound like Americans are trying to blame China for what North Korea is doing. Does China carry responsibility in the forming of the North Korean state? Yes. But that’s history and what matters isn’t what China has done in the past, but what China does in the present.

Is China “responsible for” North Korea? As in, is it China’s fault for what North Korea is doing now? No. But does China have the responsibility to do what it can to help maintain peace between nations? Yes. Just as all nations do.

China is in a unique position to handle this situation, being just about the only nation that has anything close to “normal” relations with North Korea. Further, China can place intense economic pressure on North Korea, being North Korea’s only significant trade partner and the primary way things go in and out of N. Korea.

If China really cares about keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of irresponsible powers, then China ought to leverage its unique position to compel North Korea. China is the world’s best chance at a non-military option. The alternative is immense pain and suffering on the Korean Peninsula both North and South.

/r/China Thread