DPRK, ROK and the USA
It is commonly known that the leadership in the DPRK has felt (and feels) threatened by the USA despite current US activities in other parts of the world (especially Iraq and later Afghanistan). The current statement (see above) is clearly stressing that viewpoint. This is perhaps not wrong because of the naval exercise taking place close to North Korea, which they condemn. Much of the distress is related to the sinking of the ROK naval vessel known as the Cheonan case, which supposedly the DPRK sank. A body of international experts have concluded that DPRK is to blame for the sinking although the DPRK has not accepted the blame. One could imagine a response from the international community and notably the UN Security Council, but experts say this is not likely, because China is reluctant to go against Pyonyang.
DPRK and China versus the USA and Taiwan
The Chenonan game is not only one in town. China is a growing power in East Asia especially. Today China considers Taiwan as part of continental China. This can be observed in Chinese responses to American sale of arms to Taiwan. The above mentioned naval exercise also sends a signal to China about the strength of the American naval presence. In other words a highly advanced American army combined with a Taiwanese ditto equipped with American weapons poses a strong and dangerous opponent in a potential row over Taiwan. In other words when the Chinese does not respond to the sinking of the Cheonan vessel, it is probably not because they want to protect DPRK but rather the desire to keep the pressure on the US to disarm and leave the area so that China can become the dominant power. This is evident if one observes China's own naval exercises in the South Chinese Sea, and the row with neighbouring states such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan just to mention a few .
"Das Säbelgerassel um Nordkorea ist Teil des Kampfes um Macht und Einfluss in Ostasien - und zeigt zugleich die neue Rolle, die China in der Region spielt: Peking will den Einfluss der Amerikaner im Pazifik eindämmen und sich allmählich selbst als Ordnungsmacht etablieren. In seltener Offenheit kritisierten chinesische Funktionäre und Militärs in den vergangenen Wochen die Aktivitäten Washingtons. Peking weigerte sich gar, Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates zu empfangen.
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Die US-Flotte veranstaltet ihr Manöver zwar in internationalen Gewässern - aber in den Augen Pekings sind die Amerikaner dabei, chinesische Sicherheitsinteressen zu untergraben: "Wir lehnen es entschieden ab, wenn ausländische Kriegsschiffe und Flugzeuge im Gelben Meer und in Chinas Küstengewässern aktiv werden", erklärte Chinas Außenministerium.
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Derweil geben sich chinesische Experten realistisch: Die USA würden niemals freiwillig ihre Vormachtstellung in Nordostasien aufgeben, sagt Lü Chao vom Zentrum für Südkorea-Studien dem KP-Blatt "Global Times". Sie würden auch in Zukunft die "Gelbe-Meer-Karte" ausspielen und das Gewässer niemals als "verbotene Zone" betrachten - so wie die Chinesen es gerne hätten."
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,708279,00.html