By Joel Wuthnow
On Tuesday, China voted in favor of a new sanctions resolution (PDF) in the U.N. Security Council that condemned North Korea’s December 12 ballistic missile test and strengthened existing sanctions on the "Hermit Kingdom." The vote is an important sign that the new People Republic of China (PRC) leadership is willing to use sticks to prod Pyongyang towards compliance with international non-proliferation norms. However, the U.S. should take steps to confirm that China itself complies with the measures and intent of the resolution.
China’s approval of the resolution, which not only condemns the missile launch, but also imposes sanctions on several Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizens and firms, represents Beijing’s strongest response to a North Korea ballistic missile test to date. After similar tests in 2006, China agreed to a warning by the Council, while in 2009, it only acquiesced to a less authoritative (PDF) Presidential Statement, while suggesting that that year’s launch was merely a “satellite test” even if it had ramifications for ballistic missile technology.
The vote also represents a shift in tone from 2010, in which China refused to countenance a Security Council response to North Korea’s sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan and its shelling of the ROK-held Yeonpyeong Island, much to international disappointment. At that time, Beijing was concerned that a Council response would lead to a further deterioration of the situation.
Read the full story at The Diplomat