China's Policy Shift: Analysts See Tacit Acceptance of a Nuclear North Korea

Analysts say China may now tacitly accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. This assessment follows Beijing's decision to omit a key phrase from a major policy document. Last week, China released a white paper on arms control and non-proliferation. The document updates the country's official stance from 2005. Notably, it did not include the long-standing goal of the "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula." Experts suggest this omission signals a strategic shift. They believe China is prioritizing its geopolitical competition with the United States. Managing stability with a nuclear North Korea, rather than insisting on denuclearization, appears to be the new focus. The white paper outlines China's broader policies on national defense and nuclear weapons. The change in language regarding North Korea is seen as one of its most significant updates.