Chinese officials again stressed their support for additional talks with Iran and objection to sanctions, sparking a surprising condemnation from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In a long diatribe against both Iran and China, Clinton declared that it was time to “move away from the engagement track” and apply more sanctions against Iran. She warned that China would face diplomatic isolation and disruptions to its energy supply.
Clinton made the threats at a speech at the French war college, following a meeting in which US and French officials drafted a new round of sanctions they hoped to push through the UN Security Council.
China’s reported plans to veto additional sanctions against Iran may irk the US, but as permanent members of the security council there is little the US can ultimately do about them. Secretary Clinton’s comments may in fact push China even further into opposition of the sanctions, as any support they gave it now would be seen as capitulation to US demands.
