Russia’s decision to deploy North Korean troops to support its military efforts in Ukraine has sparked unease not only among Western allies but also in China, which fears the alliance could shift the balance of power in East Asia.
Views Alliance Cautiously
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly sent up to 12,000 soldiers to aid Russia, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stating they could engage Ukrainian forces as soon as Sunday.
The deployment marks a significant military escalation in the conflict, which Western nations swiftly condemned as a “dangerous provocation.”
While North Korea may benefit from access to Russian military technology, Chinese authorities view the new alliance cautiously, according to Hotnews.
China is concerned that a deeper North Korea-Russia partnership could destabilize the Korean Peninsula, compelling Beijing into a defensive stance to safeguard North Korea, should hostilities arise.
Cold War-Style Alliances is Undesirable
“China faces a challenging situation,” said Zhu Feng of Nanjing University, noting that a return to Cold War-style alliances is undesirable for Beijing.
He points out that China has avoided military involvement in favor of diplomacy, seeking to promote peace as part of a “friends of peace” initiative alongside countries like Brazil.
Though China’s President Xi Jinping hasn’t openly condemned the Russian-North Korean alliance, recent diplomatic signals reveal dissatisfaction.
Xi recently omitted the usual phrase “friendly neighboring country” in official messaging to North Korea, raising speculation about Beijing’s discomfort with Kim’s growing military alliance with Russia.
Experts argue that China’s strategic interests may soon compel it to take a firmer stance, fearing that its implicit support of Russia could entangle it in a wider regional conflict.
“Beijing may simply not know how to counter North Korea’s alignment with Russia without destabilizing its regional strategy,” says Victor Cha of Georgetown University.
As South Korea contemplates arming Ukraine, Seoul has already pressed China to intervene diplomatically with Pyongyang, urging restraint.
