China maintained a heavily principled, low-profile stance regarding mounting speculation that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping may soon embark on an official visit to North Korea for a high-stakes summit with Chairman Kim Jong-un. The ambiguous posture is widely interpreted by diplomatic observers as a classic NCND—neither confirming nor denying—maneuver.

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Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping receives a rapturous welcome from Pyongyang residents during his official visit to North Korea in June 2019. Reports suggest there remains a distinct possibility of another presidential trip to the North as early as this week. / Photo courtesy of Xinhua News Agency

According to Beijing diplomatic sources on May 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning kept her cards close to her chest during a regular press briefing the previous day. When requested to confirm reports regarding an imminent visit to North Korea by the Chinese leadership, Mao tempered expectations, stating, "Regarding specific matters, there is currently no information available to provide."

Nevertheless, she pointedly added, "China and the DPRK (North Korea) are socialist friendly neighbors, and the two parties and two countries have long maintained a tradition of amicable exchanges. This aligns with the mutual interests of both nations and contributes to regional peace and stability." The subtle nuance of her remarks could easily be construed as an acknowledgment that the ongoing speculation carries significant weight.

Time magazine reported on May 20, citing an anonymous source, that President Xi could embark on a state visit to North Korea as early as this week. Should the trip materialize, it is highly likely designed to counter Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has pivoted toward an aggressive geopolitical stance away from Japan's traditionally strict pacifist doctrine.

Sources noted that Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs (who also serves as Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission), visited Pyongyang from April 9 to 10 to meet with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. His trip inevitably fuels analysis that the visit served as a preliminary advance mission to pave the way for President Xi's trip to Pyongyang. If Xi visits North Korea, it will mark his first trip there in seven years, since June 2019.

During the same briefing, Mao also dismissed claims made by the Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council, who alleged that China deployed over 100 vessels near the First Island Chain following the U.S.-China summit. "The rhetoric of Taiwan independence separatist forces is not worth commenting on," Mao stated, while asserting that "the activities of the Chinese military consistently comply with international law and international practices."

Furthermore, Mao denied a Financial Times (FT) report claiming that President Xi heavily criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Japan's remilitarization during a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Mao countered that the report "does not square with the facts as understood by the Chinese side."

According to the FT, Xi fiercely condemned Prime Minister Takaichi and Japan's military spending hikes during the talks. In response, Trump reportedly argued that Japan had no choice but to adopt a more aggressive defense posture due to the growing threats posed by North Korea. Given the steadily deteriorating reality of Sino-Japanese relations, the report appears highly plausible.

                                                                                                            Hong Soon-do