WSJ said, in recent months, China is more aggressive in supervising the border by using drones. But Chinese officials were reluctant to comment on the preparations and stated that the current level of training and combat readiness remained normal.
"Military means should not be an option to solve the Korean Peninsula problem," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Experts generally agree that a US military strike against North Korea is highly unlikely. But if the United States is finally forced to confront North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, then China will be bothered with bombs that fall near its border with North Korea. Beijing also wants to improve its border guarding and prevent the influx of refugees from North Korea to China.
According to one expert, the conflict on the Korean Peninsula is more likely than the conflict in the South China Sea. "If you want me to bet on where I think the US and China will get into the first conflict, it's not Taiwan, South China Sea or the East China Sea, I think it's the Korean Peninsula," said Mark Cozad, a former US intelligence official for Asia Timur, who now works at Rand Corp.
He said China, which is a North Korean ally, would not necessarily immediately defend the North if the true conflict occurs. But at least, Beijing wants the US to consult with him first before launching military action against Kim's regime
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