Not Quite the Dragon: A ‘Chinese’ view on the Six Party Talks, 2002–8

Despite the never-ending criticism, Beijing's new diplomacy has fostered fertile ground on which multilateral security arrangements might flourish, albeit slowly. In this view, this article argues for a re-reading of the diplomatic history of the Six Party Talks that can render justice to the pivotal role of Beijing in maintaining a continuous process. By re-tracing the diplomatic history of the Talks on North Korea's nuclear capabilities during the period 2002–8, it investigates this process against the background of China's evolving multilateral posture. The Chinese diplomatic style of the Talks, reconciliatory, multilayered, and open-ended, might represent the best chance for security multilateralism in North-East Asia despite the uncertainties about the effectiveness of the Party.