China urges S.Korea not to make defectors` plight int`l issue

China urges S.Korea not to make defectors` plight int`l issue. February. 28, 2012 01:46. yhchoi65@donga.com lightee@donga.com.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has reportedly conveyed via a diplomatic channel a message to South Korea urging “not to shift the issue of North Korean defectors (in China) into an international matter.”

The move is apparently aimed at blocking Seoul from officially raising issue with Beijing’s repatriation of the defectors on the global stage, including referral to the U.N. Human Rights Council Monday. The ministry also said in its spokesman’s briefing, “China is opposed to shifting the issue of North Korean defectors into a refugee matter and internationalizing and politicizing it.”

An official in Seoul said Sunday, “China is apparently feeling the heat over its deportation of North Korean defectors evolving into an international issue.” In consideration of Beijing`s negative response, Seoul is adjusting the intensity of potential countermeasures for China`s repatriation of defectors.

South Korea plans to urge China anew to cooperate on the matter by officially discussing the plight of defectors in a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, who will visit Seoul Thursday.

Over in the U.S., the Obama administration has started to pressure China over defectors.

A diplomatic source in Washington said a ranking State Department official recently conveyed through the Chinese Embassy in Washington the message that Beijing should not forcefully repatriate defectors detained in China. A State Department official said China`s deportation of defectors is a violation of an international treaty on refugees signed by China. The official added that China should perform its obligations as party to the treaty and not disregard human rights. Sources say, however, that China has yet to display a notable response to U.S. pressure.

The Obama administration considers the deportation of the defectors a grave human rights violation and is closely monitoring the situation primarily through divisions in charge of human rights and democracy at the State Department. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, Washington is not publicly discussing the issue just yet, but is reportedly urging Beijing not to send back defectors via channels behind the scenes.

The State Department`s human rights and democracy divisions and Korea desk of the East Asia bureau are taking charge of the matter. Washington is also said to be constantly checking the accuracy of news reports on defectors through the South Korean Embassy in Washington. Another diplomatic source said, “The Obama administration is closely consulting with Seoul to handle the latest case of North Korean defectors.”