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on Taiwan, it just might be more than it can handle. And
expect Chinese “friends” – Russia, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela
– to create similar distractions to limit potential American and
free nation assistance to Taiwan.
A word about Russian support for North Korea: Moscow’s
technological assistance for Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear
programs, and its supplies of energy and food align with
Chinese objectives and are presumably done with Beijing’s
approval. It is important to note once again that Chinese
military power has reached a point that it can throw its weight
around in Asia, and particularly within 500-1000 miles of its
border, and this capability keeps improving as time passes.
Note Beijing’s recent 7.2% increase in defense spending, even
though its economy is in serious trouble.
Could the PLA (People’s Liberation Army of China) seize
Taiwan? It might think it can, and it has some grounds for
believing it might be successful, especially if China’s partners
(North Korea most prominently) launch diversionary attacks
or movements.
North Korea Focuses Attention Away from China
Chinese support for North Korea (and keeping it intact as
a political entity) also distracts from Free World focus on
China’s own human rights atrocities, criticism that Beijing
hates. Chinese atrocities against its own citizens are bad
enough, but North Korea gets more attention on this front.
60 Section I : North Korea-China Relations: How and Why Does Beijing Protect and Empower Pyongyang?
