Chairman Mao Zedong, China's supreme leader from 1945 to 1976, had travelled abroad only twice in his life and on both the occasions his destination was the then Soviet Union. Miffed by Josef Stalin's ambivalence towards his presence in the Soviet capital, a deeply frustrated Mao decided to go back to his country when he learnt that the Soviet leader was reluctant to meet him although he had spent five nights in Moscow after his arrival there - his first-ever visit outside China. Stalin did not waste even a single moment to reach out to Mao when he learnt about latter's remarks that "I read, I eat and I s**t which I can also do in my own country [China]". During the meeting of leaders representing two Communist giants, many issues, including Mao's request for inking a Soviet-China defence treaty, came under discussion. Stalin was dismissive about a Soviet-China defence pact, arguing that China faced no threat from anywhere after the end of World War-II. However, he added, China could expect armed aggression from only one country: North Korea of Kim Il-sung. Since then, North Korea, which is among a very few communist countries that have survived the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, constitutes one of the most lethal weapons in China's diplomatic arsenal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has made his first foreign trip since assuming power in 2011, meeting China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing and discussing giving up the country's nuclear weapons. Kim succeeded his father and supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Il, following the elder Kim's death in 2011. China has announced the "unofficial" visit took place a few days ago. Kim, who made the surprise trip to the Chinese capital at Beijing's request, has said he felt "compelled" to personally inform President Xi of the rapid diplomatic developments on the Korean Peninsula in recent weeks. Kim has also reportedly said: "If South Korea and the US respond to our efforts in good faith, build a peaceful and stable atmosphere, and adopt phased and simultaneous steps for peace, the issue of denuclearization on the Peninsula can be resolved."

Western analysts are of the view that the visit represents a stunning shift for Kim. He appears to be fashioning himself as a leader in search of a peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. They argue that it's in sharp contrast to 2017, when Kim oversaw a string of missile and nuclear tests that drew the ire of the international community. Kim's trip was the first of three potential meetings with some of the world's most powerful leaders. Kim is set to attend a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next month. There are strong prospects of US President Donald Trump's meeting with Kim.

There is little or no doubt about the fact that China has sent a strong message across that Kim is not alone in his endeavour to push for sanctions relief and recognition of North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power. His visit recalls the famous remarks of medieval Chinese statesmen who always described foreigners, particularly westerners, as "barbarians". According to them, infighting among "barbarians" always augurs well for the 'Middle Kingdom'. President Donald Trump's tweet appears to be an effort aimed at forestalling squabbles among US allies: "Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to his meeting with me. In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressures must be maintained at cost!" It is not clear whether or not North Korean leader's Beijing visit was an auspicious sign ahead of meetings with the leaders of South Korea and the US. It was, however, certainly a clever move aimed at helping China gain an advantage against the challenges of global trade war threats and deepening tensions in the South China Sea. No doubt, Xi has thrown Trump a curve ball ahead of his meeting with Kim.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018