China aims to be the leading actor in the global power struggle. It also wishes to achieve this goal by challenging the United States of America (USA), which is accepted as the hegemonic power in the current global order, and the international order created on a Western basis under the leadership of the USA. Beijing clearly states these goals and tries to compete politically, economically, and geo-strategically with the Washington administration on a global scale. Beijing is considered the only actor that can compete with a global power like Washington. However, for China to maintain the competition and achieve its global goals by resisting the US-based Western hegemony, it will first have to be an undisputed power at the regional level, gaining influence over the states of the region and becoming the dominant actor in the regional security architecture.
The efforts of the USA and the West to suppress China through Taiwan, and the exercises carried out in partnership with the USA, South Korea, and Japan, citing the “North Korea danger”, aim to surround China. In addition to all these, the AUKUS security pact signed between Australia, the USA, and the United Kingdom in line to deploy nuclear-powered submarines in the Asia-Pacific region and increase the military presence of the West in the region was also implemented to counter the influence of China. The US and its allies are trying to oppose Beijing’s regional power and prevent China from increasing its regional influence within the framework of the security dilemma that will be created over AUKUS and Taiwan issues. At the same time, this effort is fueled by the idea of hindering the Beijing administration’s achievement of its global goals.
Therefore, it can be said that Washington is trying to establish superiority with regional moves in its global struggle against Beijing. All of these prove how important regional factors are for China to achieve its goals. Because of all these reasons, China is primarily trying to increase its effectiveness in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen its position as a regional actor.
At this point, it can be said that there are other obstacles in front of Beijing to increasing its regional power. For example, North Korea may be one of the obstacles standing in the way of China’s regional influence. It can be argued that although North Korea and China have a common stance through their opposition to the West and the USA, Pyongyang’s activities pose a serious problem in strengthening Beijing’s influence in the region.
In this context, the possible negative impact of North Korea on China’s regional influence can be read from two perspectives. The first of these is the security danger posed by Pyongyang. North Korea is a great nuclear power and is trying to increase this power even more. Therefore, it frequently conducts ballistic missile tests and nuclear tests. All these developments worry the regional states. This insecurity created by Pyongyang poses a problem in terms of the policies that China plans to carry out consistently in line with its global goals, and therefore in terms of its regional security architecture.
Finally, North Korea tested its missile called Hwasong-17 in November 2022.[1] This missile is an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 15,000 kilometers,[2] and when fired from Pyongyang, it is claimed to be able to hit Washington. Moreover, considering that North Korea and China are border neighbours, it can be claimed that Pyongyang’s actions are also worrying for China.
The second issue to be examined at this point is the West’s attempt to increase its presence in the region by citing the North Korean threat. Because the USA, South Korea and Japan organize various exercises in the region, citing the threats posed by North Korea and the missile tests it has carried out. These exercises create legitimacy for the American presence in the region, for the consolidation of Western allies such as South Korea and Japan, and Western-based military cooperation. Undoubtedly, this poses a threat to the regional supremacy that China is trying to achieve in line with its global goals. As it can be understood, the reason for the emergence of this threat is Pyongyang, albeit indirectly. In other words, the actions of North Korea make it difficult for China to achieve its regional-global goals.
As it is known, on December 7, 2022, approximately two weeks after China and Russia vetoed the proposed sanctions on North Korea in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim and Chinese Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming organized an online meeting on the nuclear threat posed by Pyongyang.
During the meeting, it was stated that North Korea’s behaviour was destabilizing and escalating tensions, and the United States once again called for harsh sanctions to be imposed on North Korea. In addition, the meeting is very important in that Kim emphasized that maintaining regional peace and stability should be an important common goal.[3]
However, during the meeting, Beijing may have felt the need to send a message to Pyongyang. Although the parties seem to be united in foreign policy, China may think North Korea is going forward. That meeting can also be read as a message from Beijing not to go further to the Pyongyang administration. But China’s stance may mean accepting the idea that North Korea poses a threat. This, in turn, could provide legitimacy to the United States in its exercises with South Korea and Japan.
As a result, China’s continued assertion in global competition depends on increasing its regional influence and providing a regional security environment. North Korea, on the other hand, disrupts this through its actions, and even makes room for the US to have a presence in the region. Perhaps therefore Beijing felt the need to develop a dialogue with Washington to send a message to Pyongyang.
[1] “North Korea Claims It Succesfully Tested a Hwasong-17 ICBM”, NK News, https://www.nknews.org/2022/11/north-korea-claims-it-successfully-tested-a-hwasong-17-icbm/, (Date of Accession: 12.12.2022).
[2] “Kuzey Kore’nin Nükleer Gücü”, ANKASAM, https://www.ankasam.org/ankasam-infografik-kuzey-korenin-nukleer-gucu/, (Date of Accession: 12.12.2022).
[3] “U.S. Envoy For North Korea Holds Rare Talks With Chinese Counterpart Over Recent Provocations”, Korea JongAng Daily, https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/12/09/national/northKorea/Korea-Sung-Kim-North-Korea/20221209094207309.html, (Date of Accession: 12.12.2022).
