Economic sanctions on people who can survive by eating grass?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HJ17Cb03.html

Business as usual across the Yalu
By Ting-I Tsai

TAIPEI - Pyongyang's proclaimed successful nuclear test, which has sparked anger and fear around the world and prompted passage of more UN sanctions, is not deterring Chinese business people living on the border from doing business with North Korea. They are confident that Beijing will not enforce really harsh punishments.

"For North Korea, reform and development is still its goal. It is just a matter of time. We are still keen on doing business there," said Zeng Chengbiao, chairman of the Zhongxu Group which is based in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province. Zeng has been planning to operate a department store in Pyongyang and is also interested in investing in mining there. Zeng said his company is preparing to announce a major investment after the Chinese Lunar New Year in February.

Zeng is a typical example of the hundreds of Chinese business people who remain enthusiastic about trading with or investing in North Korea, despite the international furor and unconfirmed reports about Pyongyang's running out of electricity and food while major players in the Security Council debate punishments for North Korea's nuclear test. snip

"They can still live by simply eating grass. What would these economic sanctions really do?" said Niu Jun, professor at the Peking University's School of International Relations, who visited North Korea in July.

Shortly after the UN resolution passed, US ambassador to the UN John Bolton told reporters that the next step was to start work on implementing the resolution. But none of the current moves are scaring away Chinese businessmen.

[MrModerate]

1. What they do is starve to death more slowly by eating grass . . .

Whether sanctions can make an intolerable situation *more* intolerable is arguable.

What I don't understand is why China resists a change of government in North Korea, when Kim's crazy actions threaten them at least as much as they do South Korea or Japan.

Maybe just because the concept of overthrowing a despotic regime is something the Chinese don't want their people thinking about any more than is absolutely necessary.

[enigma000]

2. They are concerned about the millions of potential refugees

streaming into China. The Chinese government would have little choice but to provide humanitarian aid for 25 million North Koreans. Naturally, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the US would also help.

[MrModerate]

3. The NK government *is* going to implode . . .

Sooner or later, and the refugees will be on the doorsteps of everybody else in the region.

If I was the Chinese government, I'd be trying to stage manage a somewhat less-catastrophic regime change that would produce a government I could work with.

[LaBanty]

4. eating grass, but they have nukes in the fridge

If their fanatical nutjob leader hadn't sacrificed his own people's well being to develop a nuclear program, instead...

You don't reward people for bad behavior. Short of sanctions, would it just be better to bomb the shit out of them and kill them outright? I hardly think so. Everyone always looks for diplomatic (read: peaceful) resolutions. If not for sanctions, should we just use harsh language, or a strongly-worded letter? Let's see... I think we did that, already, and they just performed a nuclear test a week ago. Obviously, the strongly-worded approach wasn't very effective.

Fifteen countries, including China, voted unanimously for sanctions, which are preferable to bombing the shit out of them. China, however, probably has no intention of enforcing the sanctions. (They already said as much.)

Note to dictators: when your people are starving, your nuke program can wait.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I bet the Iraqis wish they would have had some nukes

Note to dictators with oil: If you don't have nukes we will be coming to get that oil in a jiffy.

Don