Chinese Premier: Avoiding Korean Conflict is Priority

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

SEOGWIPO, South Korea -- China's premier said Sunday that avoiding conflict between the Koreas over the sinking of a warship is most urgent, but did not express support for a bid by South Korea and Japan to condemn North Korea at the United Nations for allegedly carrying out the attack.

China has been facing intense pressure from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington to join efforts to punish North Korea over the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean naval ship that investigators say was ripped apart by a North Korean torpedo two months ago. Forty-six sailors died in the incident -- the South's worst military loss since the Korean War.

Wrapping up a two-day summit with South Korea and Japan on the Korean resort island of Jeju, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao showed no clear public signs Sunday that Beijing was ready to rebuke North Korea.

"The urgent task for the moment is to properly handle the serious impact caused by the Cheonan incident, gradually defuse tensions over it, and avoid possible conflicts," Wen said.

"China will continue to work with every country through aggressive negotiations and cooperation to fulfill our mission of maintaining peace and stability in the region," he said.
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China doesn't want a flood of refugees coming across its border. At the same time, they're probably giving reassurances to Mini Me behind the scenes.