A Chinese Protectorate
By Edward Kim
Let us think outside the box for a moment. The United States should ally with Beijing to make North Korea a Chinese protectorate. Among the choices of war, the status quo, and the above option, the Chinese protectorate plan is the least worst of only bad choices for North Koreans.
It may be in the best interest of South Koreans to have gradual reunification over a decade or two. But it is equally in the best interest of North Koreans to be under the immediate control of Beijing.
The Korean-Chinese population that makes up Yanbian in Jilin - the Chinese province that borders North Korea - will attest to that. North Korea should be made another autonomous region.
Then Seoul’s unmonitored aid in the hundreds of millions would be put to better use by the local government in Jilin than has been done under the current regime in Pyongyang. NGOs would also be much more effective in a Chinese-ruled North Korea than in the current situation.
As South Korea continues its sunshine and soft-landing policies for the sake of its economy and to avoid any possibility of war, let the United States now begin to promote policies in the best interests of North Koreans. That means immediate regime change, from a totalitarian to an authoritarian one; from the worst to the pretty bad. If FDR can ally with Stalin to defeat Hitler, Bush can ally with Hu Jin Tao to bring down Kim Jong Il.
To avoid possible confusion, making North Korea a Chinese protectorate today is no more an anti-reunification position than is South Korea’s current plan of absorbing North Korea 10 or 20 years from now. The only difference between these two plans is the regime put in charge of the North Korean people during the years prior to reunification. Seoul’s policy is to perpetuate Kim Jong Il’s regime until Dear Leader sees the light. The United States should support the immediate expansion of Jilin.
Admittedly there is no guarantee that Beijing would relinquish control of North Korea easily after 10 years. But there is less reason to believe it would be any easier under Kim Jong Il’s rule.
Yes, the Tibetan people have suffered much under Red China’s occupation. But Tibet at its worse would still be infinitely better for North Koreans today.
The Chinese protectorate plan will provoke many, especially in South Korea. For it is not enough for these South Koreans to assure their own safety and livelihood by appeasing the North’s tyrant with cash and abstentions from UN human rights votes. They must also oppose the best chance of a better life for 21 million North Koreans today in order to preserve a shallow sense of national pride.
