Chinese Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman of China's Foreign Ministry, gestures at a regular news conference in Beijing, China, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/JASON LEE

New York Times: North Korea’s Hydrogen Bomb Claim Strains Ties With China

BEIJING — For months, China’s leaders have worked to improve relations with North Korea, its loyal but unpredictable ally to the east. They dispatched a top official to the North for a military parade, rejected calls to isolate it with tough economic sanctions, and spoke glowingly of its leader.

But on Wednesday, Beijing’s hopes of keeping its neighbor in check appeared to diminish, as the North said it had completed a test of a hydrogen bomb about 50 miles from the Chinese border, the fourth nuclear weapon test in a decade.

Officials in Beijing were furious.

“China strongly opposes this act,” Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in unusually harsh remarks at a news conference on Wednesday. “China will firmly push for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

More News On Chinese Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test

China firmly opposes DPRK's nuclear test -- China.org.cn
China not terribly pleased with North Korea's hydrogen bomb testing -- Shanghaiist
China urges North Korea to honor commitment to denuclearisation -- Reuters
China 'firmly opposes' North Korea nuclear test: Beijing -- AFP
North Korea and China Play a Delicate Game -- AP
China Condemns N. Korea's Purported Hydrogen Bomb Test -- VOA
China says did not have advance warning of North Korea bomb test -- Reuters
China, North Korea's Last Ally, Expresses Concern At Apparent Nuclear Test -- IBTimes
North Korea Tests China With Nuclear Claim -- WSJ
China says will lodge protest with North Korea after bomb test -- Reuters
China's Xinhua: North Korea nuclear test runs counter to goal of denuclearisation -- Reuters
North Korea nuclear test 'slap in the face' for China -- CNN
What China Is Saying About North Korea’s Nuclear Test -- Scott Cendrowski, Fortune
A snub for China, North Korea’s reported nuclear test shows Beijing’s waning influence -- Washington Post
When Will China Finally Abandon the Loons in North Korea? -- Kevin Drum, Mother Jones
North Korea tested a nuclear bomb on China’s doorstep, and China is not pleased -- May Shi, Quartz