China On Defensive Over Kim Jong-il Visit

Jiang Yu

As North Korean leader Kim Jong-il wrapped up his visit to China, Beijing refused to be drawn about any connection between Kim’s security apparatus and the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan on March 26.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu, asked about Kim's visit, said she had no information to provide. But when asked whether it is true that the South Korean government summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain, Jiang said, "The sinking of the Cheonan and Kim's visit are separate issues." She said whether a country welcomes the head of state of another country "is a matter of national sovereignty."

Diplomats in Beijing say the defensive tone of such remarks shows that Beijing feels under some pressure over the awkward timing of Kim's visit. The cancellation of a plan for Kim and the Chinese leadership to watch a performance by a North Korean opera troupe of the Chinese classic "Dream of the Red Mansion" may have something to do with this. The North Korean adaptation has long been seen as symbolic of the strong ties between the two countries.

The Chinese government broke with past practice and imposed no very tight controls on domestic press coverage of Kim's visit, though the state-run media only reported it citing the foreign press. One North Korea expert said, "China's position on Kim’s visit remains based on the special ties to North Korea, but there were some changes as news about Kim’s visit were reported unfiltered online."

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