As the Pyeongchang Olympics drew to a close and tensions on the Korean peninsula continued to thaw, China welcomed enhanced dialogue between North and South Korea, and eventually encouraged direct DPRK-U.S. negotiations.

However, despite the fact that China has long encouraged dialogue, international and domestic observers alike concede that Beijing has yet to find its place in the unfolding new paradigm.

China softly protests new U.S. sanctions

Typically, unilateral sanctions announced by the U.S. or other powers are met with opposition from China on the grounds that the international community