中国要在朝鲜和美国间做出艰难抉择

Although Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month described the U.S. and North Korea as two accelerating trains that are set for a "head-on collision," as of Wednesday, there are no indications that a U.S. military strike against Pyongyang is imminent.

President Donald Trump, however, has insisted he will no longer adhere to his predecessor's policy of "strategic patience" toward North Korea. This suggests the administration is willing to consider the possibility of military action to prevent the North from developing a nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the U.S. mainland.

Amid this U.S. and North Korea standoff, it remains unclear whether China would respond with force to U.S. military action against the reclusive regime.

Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS organization in Honolulu, said he doubts China would take action: "The Chinese aren't going to war over a very ungrateful friend," given that the North Koreans have "insulted and undermined Chinese national interests over the last couple of years."

But some analysts say as long as any U.S. attack against North Korea aligns with China's interests, Beijing will accept the U.S. action.

尽管中国外长王毅上个月形容美国和朝鲜是两列不断加速，做好了迎头相撞准备的列车，但是截至星期三，没有迹象表明美国针对平壤的军事打击迫在眉睫。

不过，川普总统坚称，他不再遵循其前任制定的针对朝鲜的“战略忍耐”政策，这表明川普政府愿意考虑采取军事行动，阻止朝鲜开发出携带核弹头、能够打击美国本土的洲际弹道导弹。

面对美国和朝鲜的对峙局面，目前仍不清楚中国是否会以武力回应美国对与世隔绝的朝鲜政权采取军事行动。

设在夏威夷的美国智库战略与国际研究中心太平洋论坛主席拉尔夫·科萨表示，他对中国会采取行动表示怀疑。他说：“鉴于朝鲜在过去几年里羞辱并损害中国的国家利益，中国不会为一个非常忘恩负义的朋友两肋插刀。”

其他一些分析人士表示，只要美国打击朝鲜符合中国利益，北京将接受美国的行动。