Seeing the light: China supports resolution on Iran
Posted by stuart on Nov 26th, 2009
2009
Nov 26
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
Well done. About time. Demonstrate global responsibility. Help reign in a rogue regime. And don’t be shy when it comes to sanctions. After all, you do like oil, don’t you? Zhongguo jia you!!
Looks like Obama’s approach to US-China relations is yielding results after all.
More on this story at The Washington Post.
Update 14/12/2009
November 28th, 2009 at 5:13 am
I wouldn’t pop the champagne just yet, stuart. China as I suspect is paying lip service here. After all, why should the US or the west demand China, who has drastically different interests vis-a-vis the west in the Middle East (including Iran) to act out the same as them? The US is worried about its BFF Israel, a country that means next to nothing to China.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
The point is, as the Washington aides made clear in Beijing, that China’s interests will evaporate if Iran doesn’t cooperate on its nuclear program.
Up to now China has proved itself very adept at getting a free ride on the Iranian issue (and many, many others). But you can’t sit on the fence and be a responsible stakeholder.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
President Obama’s approach looks promising so far – concerning of Iran, North Korea, and limiting carbon emissions. The way the American side used Chinese terminology in demonstrating the risks of abandoning non-proliferation policies (or leaving its enforcement to the U.S. alone) looks efficient, too.
All that said, Obama shouldn’t take the cooperational spirit too far. He should meet the Dalai Lama next month – no matter if Beijing considers that helpful or splittist. The president’s appointment diary is an internal American affair.
Juchechosunmanse: If Beijing’s lip services include support of IAEO and UN SC resolutions, I’d say that such lip services spell progress anyway.
If Beijing actively helps to implement possible sanctions, that would be even better, of course.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Couldn’t agree more, Justrecently. Cooperation is good, but caving on the DL sends the new kid on the block the wrong message.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:43 am
stuart,
How? They are going to bomb Iran back to the stone age or they are going to pull an Irag again?
December 1st, 2009 at 8:56 am
Neither is a realistic option, especially the latter.
But the worst case for everyone is an Iran with the bomb; so something’s got to give.