Recently, I had a discussion with a friend via e-Mail and feel it useful to expand the audience.
North Korea - Unfortunately, China is the problem. I believe that Xi trusts that the US would NOT move into the northern area of a unified, and peaceful, Korea. Additionally, there would be NO reason for Koreans to rush to enter China when there would be a free, although controlled, southern passage. Thus, it’s the usual Chinese bluff. China will not suffer badly by banning coal imports from Korea as they continue to export oil to Korea. In other words, Xi’s duplicitous, crafty, promise of Chinese sanctions to Trump was clever … but, I suspect that Trump can see that and, at the moment, Trump has the Joker card.
Of course, every pack has two Jokers. 😟
George Friedman's 70% chance of attack requires a definition of the word ‘attack’. I hope the the US Defence Secretary will very soon issue an order to destroy ALL future (illegal) missile tests upon launch. This will give Little Fat Boy pause … and it could not be condemned by do-nothing China.
Behind all this, of course, is China’s expansion into the so-called South China Sea ….
