Chinese state newspaper urges neutrality in US-NK conflict if NK strikes first.

That's actually a pretty bold statement.

This has nothing to do with Trump. We're each other's #1 trading partner. No matter what we do with North Korea, I truly find it impossible they turn on us. They're too locked in as are we. I can't possibly think of a scenario where they will turn on us and vice versa. Russia sure, but China, no.

Edit: should have read that through. The Chinese paper is wrong and simply clinging to Maoism. What they're proposing is Nuclear Holocaust for Prince Piggy. Xi Jinping will never remotely consider an offensive in defending NK. I can't possibly imagine that he would doom his economy and likely the world all for Lord Too-Fat-To-Launch-A-Missile.

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China should...make clear that if North Korea launches missiles that threaten U.S. soil first and the U.S. retaliates, China will stay neutral,"

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What about South Korea or Japan?

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but if the United States attacks first and tries to overthrow North Korea's government China will stop them, a Chinese state-run newspaper said on Friday.

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So no regime change is what they're saying.

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if the United States attacks first and tries to overthrow North Korea's government China will stop them,

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No, they fricking won't.

I don't think we will strike first, but if another missile gets fired off, Im gonna say all bets are off.

Neutrality by China is fine, we don't need their help, we just don't need them interfering.

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If North Korea launches an attack that threatens the United States then China should stay neutral,

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Well that's mighty white of them. Thanks for permitting us to defend ourselves if attacked, China.

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but if the United States attacks first and tries to overthrow North Korea's government China will stop them

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This is the truly concerning part. This essentially gives North Korea every incentive to simply defy our measures to block their nuclear pursuits. If the threat of American military action to destroy their program is removed, they can simply wait out sanctions free of fear of consequences.

Now the question is would the Chinese ONLY intervene in the case that the U.S. introduces ground forces and seeks total defeat of Kim's regime or would they also intervene in the case that the U.S. carries out strikes to destroy the nuclear capabilities? Obviously such strikes would likely result in North Korean attacks into the South and this a general war, which would then necessitate the United States toppling the regime.

Highly irresponsible language coming from the Chinese IMO and only serves to bolster Kim's defiance.