Beijing's Diplomatic Balancing Act on the Korean Peninsula China's sudden willingness to facilitate a meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong un is a development that warrants close attention from observers of international diplomacy.
On its surface, this move appears as a gesture of goodwill from Beijing, aimed at reviving US North Korea talks that have stalled since the ill fated Hanoi summit in February.
However, scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that China's motivations are far more complex than a simple desire to help the world breathe a collective sigh of relief.