Chinese FM Verbally Bitchslaps ADM Mullen

When China says it this way, it means they are calling President Obama's bluff.

China's ties with North Korea have drawn increasing criticism from the United States, and Admiral Mike Mullen, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, remarked on Wednesday that he wished the Chinese would be more helpful.

"The Chinese have enormous influence over the North, influence that no other nation on earth enjoys. And yet, despite a shared interest in reducing tensions, they appear unwilling to use it," he said.

In response, the Chinese Foreign ministry questioned on Thursday what Mr Mullen had ever done "for peace and stability in the region".

For the record, throughout most of his career ADM Mullen never spent considerable time in the Pacific, however I don't believe the Chinese Foreign ministry was attempting to make a resume review observation with the comment.

If the intention has been to pressure China and get them to reign in North Korea, it would appear that effort has not produced results. I don't believe anyone thought it would, but I do think it was worth the effort.

The question becomes - now what? I am not going to speculate in detail, but whatever it is - the risks of any action go up from here.