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Cold shoulder for old allies
By CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- More than 300,000 Chinese soldiers fought alongside North Korean troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, effectively halting the advance of the U.S. forces and denying them a quick victory. Spurred by the belief they were protecting their own homeland and defending Chinese beliefs, these soldiers suffered massive casualties over the next three years in an action which forced the war into a bloody stalemate. But today these efforts by Chinese volunteers are barely acknowledged by Pyongyang. For 74-year-old Hong Lu, fighting U.S. troops alongside North Koreans over half a century ago is one of his proudest moments. "We killed about 3,000 American soldiers but we also suffered heavy casualties. Many of my comrades died," he told CNN. Last July, Hong Lu and a group of Chinese war veterans traveled to North Korea to pay homage to their fallen comrades -- making offerings of flowers, wine and cigarettes. Their trip coincided with North Korea's commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. After risking his life for his neighbors, he thought he would be an honored guest. Instead he felt snubbed and treated as a mere tourist. His group was taken to Pyongyang's tourist spots, but a request to visit the 38th Parallel where Hong Lu fought, was turned down. So why the cold shoulder? Instability"China opposes the nuclearization of the Korean peninsula but North Korea is trying to make nuclear weapons. So, they think we are against them," Hong Lu said. What Hong Lu experienced was a reflection of shifting diplomacy. China tilted away from North Korea after it reactivated its nuclear weapons program. "I feel that the Chinese are becoming increasingly frustrated with the conduct of North Korea regime in the sense of breaking with international accords on nuclear non-proliferation treaty, ousting the IAEA inspectors and so forth," an adviser on Asian affairs Dr. Jim Boultilier told CNN. "What the Chinese don't want is instability on the Korean peninsula." That is the reason Chinese diplomats recently visited the capitals of North and South Korea, the U.S., Japan and Russia. Their aim was to help break the tension that veteran Hong Lu felt first-hand, and which now threatens the entire region.
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