China has presented its “Maginot Line” on the North Korean nuclear issue in relation to increasing pressure from the United States for Beijing’s active role.

The Global Times, a sister paper of the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper the People’s Daily, said in an editorial on Saturday that China can never approve the use of force to overthrow the North Korean regime or economic sanctions that may cause a humanitarian disaster.

The paper said that Pyongyang is not listening to Beijing and that Seoul and Washington are not accepting Beijing’s proposal that North Korea freeze nuclear and missile programs in exchange for a halt to joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

The paper said that under the circumstances, there is a limit to what China can do to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

The report warned that if the North conducts a sixth nuclear test, China will sharply slash oil supplies to the North to the level that will not lead to a humanitarian disaster.

Regarding a possible U.S. surgical strike on North Korea’s nuclear facilities, the paper said that China would stop such a move using diplomatic means.

However, it warned that China will immediately use military force to intervene if South Korean and American troops cross the inter-Korean border and attempt to overthrow the North Korean regime.

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