China ready to strengthen diplomatic ties with Iran!

[bhramos]

China is ready to strengthen diplomatic relations with Iran, regardless of sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.
The United Nations Security Council approved on Wednesday a new package of economic sanctions against Iran. It includes tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. The sanctions also stipulate an asset ban and a travel freeze on more than three dozen companies and individuals.
Twelve members of the council's 15 members voted for the resolution, which was sponsored by the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. Turkey and Brazil, two of the Council's current rotating members, voted against the resolution.
"The UN Security Council resolution does not mean the doors for the continuation of diplomatic relations are closed," Qin said. "The international community should use this opportunity to strengthen diplomatic efforts for the quick, comprehensive and adequate settlement of the Iranian issue."
Qin said China supports a 'double track' strategy on Iran, involving both sanctions and further negotiations, and is ready to continue work in this direction with all interested parties.
The spokesman said the UN Security Council resolution "reflects the concerns of the international community over the Iranian nuclear problem and the efforts to settle this issue as soon as possible by means of diplomacy and negotiation".

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100610/159370234.html

Why does China always support anti-US or Rouge states???

 

[LETHALFORCE]

UNSC member China the spoiler again; same as what happened during North korean sanctions. These sanctions look good on paper but for countries like China they are a joke.

 

[Yusuf]

its just a feel good statement by china after voting for the sanctions.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

No mention by China to cancel 40 billion in deals with Iran, so everything is still the same.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines

Turkey, Brazil Break Ranks on U.N. Iran Sanctions

Wednesday's "No" votes by Brazil and Turkey against the U.S.-driven Iran sanctions resolution in the U.N. Security Council was a milestone in the shift to a multipolar world. A long-time friend of the U.S. and a NATO ally openly defied the Obama administration in a vital diplomatic effort to put the squeeze on Iran -- perhaps the international community's last concerted non-military effort to prevent Tehran's ruling ayatollahs from possessing nuclear weapons.

There was little doubt that one or both countries would rebel against the U.S. following Washington's rejection of the nuclear fuel swap agreement they negotiated with Iran last month. But it's nevertheless striking that intense U.S. pressure in the run-up to the U.N. vote failed to make a dent in the determination of either Rio or Ankara to oppose the sanctions -- regardless of the cost to their respective bilateral relations with Washington.

In January, the American intelligence community's annual Threat Assessment to Congress reported as "a relative certainty" that "a global multipolar system is emerging with the rise of China, India and others." In March, the administration's new strategic doctrine echoed the same sentiment. It said the U.S. is powerless to settle any of the global issues single-handedly and thus needs strong partnerships.

So it's a safe bet that the Brazil-Turkey "No" vote is the shape of things to come. Turkey and Brazil are two different states, but both share aspirations to become major players in regional and global affairs. A key to these aspirations is to be more selective in following Washington's lead, depending on whether such action serves their interests. In February, for example, the United States was pointedly not invited to a South American regional conference jointly organized by Brazil and Venezuela.

As for Turkey, a policy shift is emerging under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one that is apparently based on a growing belief that joining the EU is a lost cause and that a less-secular Turkey can be influential among its immediate neighbors and in the broader Arab world.

Shifting post-Cold War strategic realities, combined with an emerging conservative elite composed of politicians and businessmen rooted in political Islam, have led to considerable changes at home and in dealings with the outside world. In this new context, Turkey's special ties with Israel -- once a logical extension of U.S.-Turkish relations -- are seen as largely expendable. Ankara has been edging away from the relationship for some time. Israel's clumsy handling of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, involving the death of Turkish citizens, has probably buried it altogether.

Inevitably, multipolarity has spawned its requisite initials. Brazil, Russia, India, and China, as emerging economic and political powerhouses, are known collectively as BRIC. The Turks are hoping it will soon become BRICT.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines

Global Insider: Iran-India Energy Relations

India and Iran are discussing a new underwater pipeline project that would circumvent a stalled pipeline project involving the two countries and Pakistan. In an e-mail interview, East West Institute Vice President of Programs Dr. W. Pal Singh Sidhu explains Iran-India energy relations.

WPR: What is the current energy relationship between Iran and India?

Pal Sidhu: India is the world's fifth-largest consumer of energy resources and heavily dependent on imports. Its energy consumption is estimated to rise to 27.1 quadrillion BTUs by 2025 -- the largest expected increase in energy use after China. Even with new domestic oil and gas finds, India's dependence on imports will increase. Iran is OPEC's second-largest oil producer and has the world's second-largest natural gas reserves. Today Iran is the second-biggest supplier of crude oil to India, which accounts for 85 percent of all imports from Iran to India.

In addition, there has been an on-again, off-again multi-billion-dollar deal to construct a gas pipeline from Iran to India, through Pakistan. While a deal was signed by Iran and Pakistan on Nov. 11, 2007, India has still not signed on. Although India resumed discussions with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's on the deal in April 2008, the agreement has still not been finalized. The U.S. opposition to this pipeline deal does not appear to be a factor in New Delhi's reluctance to join the project.

Separately, Indian firms have won approval to take equity stakes in the Azadegan oil field project and South Pars gas field Phase 12.

WPR: How has that relationship been affected by U.N. Security Council sanctions targeting Iran?

Sidhu: At the moment the relationship is unaffected by the U.N. Security Council sanctions because the sanctions do not cover the export and import of oil and natural gas. Even the new round of sanctions is unlikely to cover the oil and gas sector. However, some private Indian companies which are supplying refined petroleum products to Iran might find themselves in the spotlight if future sanctions also target the oil and gas industry.

Since India is not a member of the U.N. Security Council, and does not have a say in the U.N. sanctions, its relations are unaffected by sanctions. However, the situation is likely to change from 2011 when India is likely to be elected onto the U.N. Security Council and will have to vote on future sanctions against Iran. India's vote will directly impact on Indo-Iranian relations.

WPR: What is India's broader relationship with Iran, and what will be the key drivers of their relationship moving forward?

Sidhu: India describes its relationship with Iran as a "civilizational" and "historical" one, dating back thousands of years. More realistically and in the present day, India's relationship with Iran is complex. The key driver at present and for the future is likely to remain energy resources and economic relations. India will continue to import oil and gas from Iran and will also play an important role in developing Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, as well as other infrastructure, such as the port at Chahbahar. There is also likely to be convergence of interests and some cooperation on and in Afghanistan. The biggest area of difference between Iran and India is likely to be Tehran's nuclear weapons ambitions. India has categorically stated that a nuclear-armed Iran is not acceptable, although New Delhi has not made clear how exactly it will prevent Iran from acquiring this capability.

 

[badguy2000]

the only meaning of such "sanction" is that CHina pledge not to sell oil to Iran ...hahahahaha

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Good definition Badguy that is exactly what these sanctions mean for China.

 

[amoy]

And then -
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit China on Friday, as Western nations are hoping the UN Security Council will soon impose a fourth round of sanctions over Teheran's nuclear program.

While the Foreign Ministry considers Ahmadinejad's attendance at the Shanghai Expo as the reason for his visit, analysts say he is here to seek more support from China to water down fresh sanctions.

They also said the sudden visit would not prevent the resolution from passing the Security Council.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang didn't say who the Iranian president would meet in China, but President Hu Jintao will be visiting Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on Friday.

"We believe that dialogue and negotiation are the proper way to settle this issue," Qin said. "We hope Iran strengthens its cooperation with the IAEA to settle the pending issues."

While Western powers suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons, Teheran says its nuclear program is for peaceful power generation.

As a country with veto power on the UN Security Council, China's decision would be key to passing the resolution.

The final version of the resolution, as AP reported on Tuesday, would ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons, including assault helicopters and missiles.

It did not include a list of new individuals and entities - including Iran's Revolutionary Guard - that would be subject to sanctions such as an asset freeze.

A council diplomat familiar with the negotiations said that the list, which was agreed on by the five veto-wielding permanent members, had been circulated to the 10 non-permanent members and was being kept open. Commenting on Ahmadinejad's upcoming Shanghai-tour, Professor Zhang Xiaodong, deputy chief of the Chinese Association for Middle East Studies, said the Iranian president is here for more China support to water down the sanctions.

But China, Zhang said, also needs to consider its ties with the US.

"On some issues we may challenge the US. But on some other issues it's not worth doing so, as it may hurt the Sino-US ties."

He said China would tell Iran not to be that rigid even though the US now has a lot of foreign policy troubles on its plate. "For Iran and China, it's in the interests of both to have dialogues with the US. " The Iranian president, however, continued to be tough to Western powers on Tuesday.

Despite a looming UN vote on the resolution, Ahmadinejad warned his country's nuclear fuel swap deal with Turkey and Brazil was "an opportunity that would not be repeated", Reuters reported.

Questions:

1. What is Ahmadinejad's said reason for visiting China?

2. Why Does Ahmadinejad want to appeal to Chinese officials?

3. Why does the US wish to impose sanctions?

Answers:

1. To visit the Shanghai Expo

2. To open dialogue and water down US-imposed sanctions

3. To prevent them from developing a nuclear program.