China has deployed 150,000 troops to the border of North Korea to “prepare for unforeseen circumstances.” Media covering the situation are saying that the troops are “medical and backup units” to deal with North Korean refugees in the event of a United States preemptive strike.
The USS Carl Vinson was re-deployed to the Korean Peninsula over the weekend.
Chosun News from South Korea reported (translation),
As the United States announced its independent North Korean behavior and moved the United States Navy’s nuclear-powered Calvinus (CVN-70) carrier class to Singapore, the Chinese army has deployed about 150,000 troops in two groups, ” The report said. It is because of the prospect of taking “military options”, such as preemptive attacks on North Korea, just as the United States has launched an air raid on Syria.
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Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reported on the 9th that the Syrian missile strike in the United States shocked China, suggesting that the People’s Liberation Army forces are moving toward the Yalu River.
There is speculation of a pending North Korean test on April 15, a National Holiday for the country. The DPRK is working hard to create a missile that could reach the United States with nuclear warheads… a problem that experts say may be just 2 years ahead.
The Daily Mail reported,
“Wu Dawei, China’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, met with his South Korean counterpart on Monday to discuss the nuclear issue.
The talks come shortly after Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a summit at which he pressed Pyongyang’s key ally to do more to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.
‘(We) are prepared to chart our own course if this is something China is just unable to coordinate with us,’ US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the summit.
He added however that Beijing had indicated a willingness to act on the issue.
‘We need to allow them time to take actions,’ Tillerson said, adding that Washington had no intention of attempting to remove the regime of Kim Jong-Un.”
Why the troops?
President’s Trump and Xi Jinping appeared to have a better meeting than many expected. The Financial Times reports that China has already made concessions to avert a trade war, such as lifting the ban on American beef, and also agreed on more sanctions against North Korea.
So did China move the troops because of a potential US strike after Syria? Or did they do it to put pressure on North Korea’s crazy leader? Moving the USS Carl Vinson closer back to the region, and the 150,000 Chinese troops deployed to the North Korean border may in fact give Kim a few moments to ponder his next actions.
H/T Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children
Related:
- Japan mulling a first strike against North Korea’s Kim Jung-un
- Marines, SEALs, allies practice possible assault on North Korea
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