Japanese newspapers are saying that China’s proposal for an early resumption of the six-party nuclear talks is an attempt to mitigate international pressure to exercise its influence on North Korea following the North’s artillery attack on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island last week.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said Monday that China made the proposal out of desperation to demonstrate that it is making diplomatic efforts to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to the U.S. early next year.

The Mainichi Shimbun said China’s proposal that the six countries’ top nuclear envoys hold an emergency meeting is part of Beijing’s attempt to avoid international pressure for a greater role in preventing North Korean provocations while keeping in check South Korea and the U.S.

The Asahi Shimbun said that by making the proposal, China is apparently trying to give the international community the impression that it is making diplomatic efforts to settle the situation.

China has been facing stronger international pressure to play a bigger role in discouraging North Korea from pursuing provocations, such as the sinking of South Korea’s “Cheonan” naval ship and the recent shelling of Yeonpyeong.