Wikileaks dump: China believes Korea should be reunified under South's control

[bfdd]

No one thinks China is stupid, but historically they have had at least four valid reasons to support North Korea: Fellow Communists, physical buffer against South Korea and the West, keeping an economic competitor permanently weakened, and potential loss of face in having a Chinese client state fail or be taken. If significant factions of Chinese leadership have turned against North Korea, and assuming those are primarily the younger generation, then only the fourth holds true. Thus as long as South Korea and the West do not act in such a manner that threatens Chinese leadership with loss of face, reunification is not only possible, but somewhat likely.


LOL I imagine you are correct with this analysis.

Those four things you list that don't really matter at all. First off China is hardly communist and one could make arguments against N.Korea being communist as well. N.Korea is a "spoiled child" and a parasite to the region, they actually cause harm to China by just existing. The buffer from Korea and the West isn't needed any longer. South Korea and the USA are big trade allies together and with China. The USA and China are so tied together that the failure of one is the failure of both. Loss of face is big for the Chinese people, but I think they would rather prosper and lose a little face than destroy everything they have been working so hard for.

Like I said, you have to assume China is stupid and would not act in its best interest for these doomsday scenarios to occur.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Why would South want them? These people are intellectually crippled, malnourished, totally different people at this point which would drag SK into poverty when they are just getting up to first world standards of living.

They are the same people, just have been separated for more than half of a century. It is only natural that they would want to be reunited as long as it does not cost most of the lives of either country.

First off China is hardly communist

Indeed, I think it is silly for them to think of themselves as such. Likely insults real communists. Not sure how you can have an "invisible cast system" and still be communist.

 

[5150Joker]

Why would South want them? These people are intellectually crippled, malnourished, totally different people at this point which would drag SK into poverty when they are just getting up to first world standards of living.

This is not like East Germany and West unification at all. Not that that was easy either. And East is still a basket case relative.

The South Koreans are well aware of the economic plights of the North Koreans. However, they are all one people and many families have relatives that are stuck in NK. I think SK would be willing to take the economic impact of a reunification for several reasons:

1. Reunified Korea is something they've dreamed of regardless of the cost.
2. It would bring families back together.
3. Opens up a bigger market in the long term.
4. Chinese influence over their people is greatly diminished and their need for a continued US military presence ceases (I wonder how the US would feel about that?).
5. Militarily SK will absorb some well trained troops from the North as well as other military tech (long range ballistic missiles).
6. It just makes sense.

Personally I hope this happens in the next few years, I'd love to see how a reunification plays out and it would be a great thing for the Koreans.

 

[JSt0rm]

Its good to know that china sees whats really important in life.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[llee]

Beyond cold war political ideologies, China really doesn't have many strong ties to North Korea. The suggestion that they are strategic allies is total horse poo. They are more concerned with an American influence on their doorstep than the welfare of Kim Jung Il and his chubby kids.

China wants that for more than one reason. If they get back together then they will have more money and may buy weapons and other stuff from China.
Right now S.K buys mostly American and the N.K from China. But North is lacking in funds. So its a win win for China.

You have no linkage to the impact. Sure, there may be a war and the South might take control of the entire peninsula. What evidence is there to show that Korea will begin to buy weapons from China?

Also, no more buffer state means a tense border with China directly this time instead of just along the 38th.

I think that China is going to fight or some agreement that US troops stay below the 38th parallel and respect pre-conflict, post Korean war zones. S. Korean troops would be exempt for obvious reasons.

it's common sense. look at the good starcraft players from south korea.

Hilarious.

 

[JS80]

Why would South want them? These people are intellectually crippled, malnourished, totally different people at this point which would drag SK into poverty when they are just getting up to first world standards of living.

This is not like East Germany and West unification at all. Not that that was easy either. And East is still a basket case relative.

That's because you don't understand the Korean psyche. Just the name of the country itself gives a little hint on how Koreans see themselves.

Korea in Korean = "Han beloved patriot"

Han translates into "one"

Koreans consider themselves as one gooks.

 

[JSt0rm]

That's because you don't understand the Korean psyche. Just the name of the country itself gives a little hint on how Koreans see themselves.

Korea in Korean = "Han beloved patriot"

Han translates into "one"

Koreans consider themselves as one gooks.

^^^This is wrong and very offensive language

"A folk etymology suggests that "beloved patriot" refers to the Korean word "국" meaning "country."[7][8] The Korean word is pronounced [kuk] when used alone, but [ɡuk] when used as an affix, for example in Hanguk, meaning "Korea". According to one explanation, American soldiers during the Korean War were often confronted by Korean soldiers and civilians and would hear them say, "미국" [miɡuk] meaning "America." (For a derivation, see 美國.) The American soldiers supposedly interpreted this expression as "Me beloved patriot?", meaning "am I a beloved patriot?" in broken English[4]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/beloved patriot

 

[Zebo]

That's because you don't understand the Korean psyche. Just the name of the country itself gives a little hint on how Koreans see themselves.

Korea in Korean = "Han beloved patriot"

Han translates into "one"

Koreans consider themselves as one gooks.

That's why I asked. Thx.

Hopefully, when it comes it's not too painful.

 

[ShawnD1]

That's why I asked. Thx.

Hopefully, when it comes it's not too painful.

How well did East Germany integrate?