China’s Challenges Abroad: How Do You Solve a Problem Like North Korea?

The importance of the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th party congress to the future of Xi Jinping’s leadership and the direction of China has paralyzed policy debates on many issues, including North Korea. The paralysis has persisted despite the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to wheedle greater Chinese cooperation to rein in North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs before they can strike the U.S. mainland.