China's tough decisions over N Korea

China today finds itself in a unusual and difficult situation. Much of the rest of the world, including its two biggest trading partners, the US and Japan, is demanding tough action against North Korea.

Only China, with its UN Security Council veto power, stands in the way.

For China to use its UN veto power would be extremely unusual.

The fact that it is now threatening to do so shows just how much Beijing believes its own vital national interest is at stake.

China's over-riding national interest is stability.

The current situation on the Korean peninsula may not be a happy one, but from China's point of view, it is reasonably stable, and it could be a lot worse.

China's concerns

The two things China fears the most are a North Korean collapse and another war on the Korean peninsula.

That is why China continues to prop up the impoverished North Korean state. Without huge quantities of Chinese food aid, oil and coal, it is unlikely the North Korean regime could last long.

" There is a very basic problem with the six-party talks structure - North Korea does not like them"

It is also the reason why China has gone to great lengths to try and find a negotiated solution to the North Korean issue.

It is those negotiations China is now trying to salvage.

Beijing's top envoy to North Korea has been dispatched to Pyongyang to try and force the North Korean leadership to come back to the talks it walked out of a year ago.

A quick agreement to return might stop the current crisis from escalating and would rescue China from the tight diplomatic corner it currently finds itself in.

But even if Beijing's envoy succeeds, few believe the Chinese sponsored six-party talks have much hope of solving the North Korean crisis.

Deadlock

For years, round after round of talks have ended in stalemate and acrimony.

There is a very basic problem with the six-party talks structure - North Korea does not like them.

The six-party talks force Pyongyang to negotiate with five other countries, including South Korea and the much hated Japan.

The North Korean leadership, however, is interested in negotiating with only one country, the US.

China has repeatedly appealed to the US government to open direct talks with Pyongyang.

The last time Washington spoke directly to Pyongyang during the Clinton administration in the 1990s, huge progress was made towards a deal that would end completely North Korea's weapons programmes, in return for recognition and peace with the US.

But direct negotiations with Pyongyang are something the Bush administration has repeatedly refused to consider.