China pushes for peace in Asia, warns NK against ‘chaos’

The escalating tension in the Korean Peninsula prompts long-time ally China to make an indirect criticism of North Korea. In a speech, China’s new president, Xi Jinping says no country in Asia “should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain.” Speaking before the Boao Forum for Asia, President Xi named no nation directly. Analysts say China is conflicted over its socialist ally. Pyongyang’s new leader, Kim Jong Un, has clearly offended Beijing as seen in new economic sanctions designed to squeeze Kim. But analysts believe China needs its buffer against U.S. forces in the Korean Peninsula and will never turn its back on North Korea. Yet Chinese public opinion is turning against North Korea, with some academics openly calling for China to turn its back on a socialist neighbor. The U.S. is also putting pressure on China to rein in its ally. Still, there was no clear evidence that Mr. Xi was talking about North Korea. The Wall Street journal quotes a senior editor at a Communist Party newspaper who says “It could be the U.S. It could be Japan… China is also angry with the Philippines.”

Read more on Reuters and The Wall Street Journal.