MONTEREY, Calif. -- The looming crisis on the Korean Peninsula poses a major test for Chinese diplomacy. As the United States and North Korea head toward a possible nuclear confrontation, China is positioned to play a crucial role in defusing the crisis. To do so, Beijing must abandon its traditional passive posture in favor of a more active role. Korea could be the crucible that reveals whether China's self-proclaimed status as a responsible great power is real.
In the past, Beijing has kept a low profile on Korean security issues and attempted to exercise its influence quietly. China's cautious efforts to preserve the security status quo and maintain stability have placed it in a passive and reactive diplomatic posture.
China's response to the current crisis reflects this pattern. Chinese Foreign Ministry statements have called for supporting a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, maintaining peace and stability, solving the problem through dialogue and preserving the 1994 Agreed Framework. These statements have highlighted the gravity of the situation, but do little to point the way toward a solution.