Instead of blaming Beijing for tensions, Washington should change its behavior: China Daily editorial

Tensions between the two Koreas are rising conspicuously, as the Republic of Korea is deepening its security partnerships with the United States and neighboring Japan as well as other Western powers, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is binding itself tighter to Russia.

The DPRK has been sending balloons carrying filth over the ROK in its latest show of hostility, while repeating its pledge of "annihilation". Unlike previous ROK administrations, the Yoon Suk-yeol government has adopted an unrelenting tit-for-tat approach, significantly upgrading its verbal threats, along with war preparedness.

The situation is no doubt dangerous. However, just as the bitter exchange at the United Nations Security Council on Friday indicated that the world security watchdog remains divided over the Korean Peninsula issue.

The meeting was an outcome of the Western allegation that the DPRK has violated the UN arms embargo on Russia by providing the latter with missiles and munitions for Moscow's "special military operation" against Ukraine.

Pyongyang has denied previous Western allegations of it providing such military aid. But the treaty it signed with Russia during President Vladimir Putin's visit last week concerning military mutual assistance has provoked more serious concerns about the matter.

Like most previous meetings on similar subjects, the UN Security Council meeting on Friday accomplished little other than listening to the parties venting their respective dissatisfaction. Once again, the discussion descended into the same old chicken-or-egg causality dilemma.

China and Russia contended joint military drills by the US and the ROK have provoked the DPRK. The US accused China and Russia of emboldening the DPRK by shielding it from more sanctions. And, following a years-old formula, the deputy US ambassador to the UN blamed China for not using its influence with Pyongyang and Moscow to "protect regional and global security". He urged Beijing to end "this increasingly dangerous military cooperation" between Moscow and Pyongyang, and threatened that Washington and its allies would "take steps" otherwise.

The US diplomat was correct about the potential danger of the state of affairs and the damaging potential of the situation on the Korean Peninsula if it continues on the trajectory it is going. But he put an unfair burden on Beijing's shoulders. One that is both incompatible with Chinese foreign policy and, more importantly, beyond its reach. Chinese Deputy UN Ambassador Geng Shuang's reply was a clear illustration of Beijing's persistent position concerning the difference.

"The current situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to be tense. How did this come about?" Geng said. "The US should reflect deeply especially on its own actions instead of blaming others and shirking its own responsibility as it habitually does."

Beijing has long insisted the US and its allies have ignored Pyongyang and Moscow's security concerns and needs. When it comes to the Korean Peninsula, Washington's escalating military deterrence against the DPRK is a direct cause of Pyongyang's self-defensive belligerence.

China's relations with Russia and the DPRK are based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, as they are with all countries. Noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries is therefore a fundamental element of Beijing's diplomacy.

Given this, there is no way for Beijing to "end" any cooperation between Russia and the DPRK as two independent states. Beijing has on many occasions given Washington its advice for untying the dead knot on the Korean Peninsula — remove the fuel from the cauldron, rather than adding fuel to the fire. Until Washington changes its approach, Seoul should be wary of surrendering its strategic autonomy in the US' geopolitical games.