China's Korea Policy after the 2012 Leadership Transitions in Asia and America.

A turbulent leadership transition in China is fracturing the country's political system. The result is that the country's military is implementing its own external policies, often not coordinating with Beijing's diplomats. Moreover, tumultuous internal events appear to be diverting policymakers from critical issues, such as those involving North Korea. Elections this year in the United States and South Korea will not substantially change the landscape in which Chinese policymakers operate because those countries are acting--and will continue to act-within tight constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]