China and North Korea Benefit from Continued Russia-Ukraine War: Gordon Chang

Geopolitical Motivations for Prolonging the War

• 🌏 China and North Korea are seen as benefiting from the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war, with no desire for a swift peace settlement.
• 💰 North Korea gains financially by selling short-range ballistic missiles and artillery shells to Russia, with potential for further financial gains as the conflict persists.
• 🇺🇸 China's primary concern is that a Russian loss would lead to the United States concentrating its focus on China in East Asia.
• 📈 Similarly, a peace in Ukraine would allow the US to shift its attention to China's activities in Asia, which Beijing wishes to avoid.

North Korea's Military Support for Russia

• 🤝 North Korea has been providing soldiers and military hardware to Russia, strengthening their strategic partnership.
• 💸 The continuation of the war allows North Korea to earn substantial income, estimated at around $12,800 per soldier per month, with discussions of sending an additional 30,000 troops.
• 🎯 North Korean troops have been effective on the front lines, notably aiding Russia in expelling Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region.

US Policy and Sanctions on Russia Allies

• ⚖️ There is a call for the US to impose stricter sanctions on countries like India and China for purchasing Russian oil.
• 📉 The current approach, with tariffs on India but not China for buying Russian oil, leads Beijing to believe it has leverage over US policy.
• 🚀 The expert argues that the US needs to demonstrate its power and assert dominance, showing that the United States is the boss, not China.