A Strategic Recalibration? China’s North Korea Policy in the Era of Uncertainty
A Strategic Recalibration? China’s North Korea Policy in the Era of Uncertainty
Two frames often explain China’s North Korean policy: A traditional approach based on the strength of a solid military alliance, and another that reveals pragmatic commercialism in pursuit of rational economic incentives. This presentation rather argues that Beijing is tactfully utilizing its economic statecraft as a tool in managing and mitigating instability to increase its influence on the Korean peninsula. What appears to be an inconsistent policy towards Pyongyang is rather a highly-calculated strategic play in the region.
LEE Dongmin, (Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder, USA) is an Associate Professor and serves as the Department Chair of the Political Science Department at Dankook University in Korea. Dr. Lee's research interests include theories and practices of civil-military relations and security studies in Northeast Asia. His teaching interests include the military in politics, comparative politics in Asia, and the politics and security policy of China and the two Koreas. Among others, Dr. Lee has contributed to the academic journals such as Armed Forces & Society, Defence Studies, and The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis. Dr. Lee previously served as an Assistant Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Two frames often explain China’s North Korean policy: A traditional approach based on the strength of a solid military alliance, and another that reveals pragmatic commercialism in pursuit of rational economic incentives. This presentation rather argues that Beijing is tactfully utilizing its economic statecraft as a tool in managing and mitigating instability to increase its influence on the Korean peninsula. What appears to be an inconsistent policy towards Pyongyang is rather a highly-calculated strategic play in the region.
LEE Dongmin, (Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder, USA) is an Associate Professor and serves as the Department Chair of the Political Science Department at Dankook University in Korea. Dr. Lee's research interests include theories and practices of civil-military relations and security studies in Northeast Asia. His teaching interests include the military in politics, comparative politics in Asia, and the politics and security policy of China and the two Koreas. Among others, Dr. Lee has contributed to the academic journals such as Armed Forces & Society, Defence Studies, and The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis. Dr. Lee previously served as an Assistant Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
