Amid escalating nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, China s role has come to the fore given Beijing is regarded as the only country that can exert influence on Pyongyang thanks to its billing as the reclusive state s sole economic pipeline and diplomatic guardian. Its accentuated role was evidenced by U.S. President Joe Biden s call on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their first face-to-face meeting in Indonesia, last month, to take proper steps to de-escalate military tensions exacerbated by the Kim Jong-un regime.