In a statement being presented as an act of open “defiance” to American will, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials once again expressed their opposition to sanctions against Iran, insisting that the disagreements with Iran are something to be solved diplomatically.
“Pressure and sanctions can’t solve the fundamental problem,” noted Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, saying the Chinese government doesn’t feel that diplomatic efforts have been fully exhausted yet.
The United States and other Western powers have been pressuring Iran to give in to a series of ever increasing demands about its civilian nuclear program, including at least some calls for them to abandon civilian enrichment entirely. Iran has refused, but has expressed openness to third party enrichment deals. The US promises of “crippling sanctions” have fallen short amid opposition from China and Russia.
China in particular sees Iran as an important trading partner and is not inclined to see the situation devolve into an endless series of escalating sanctions. “We believe that sanctions are not an end in themselves,” insisted Ambassador Liu Zhenmin, “in no way can they provide a solution to this issue.”
This is not about nukes, this is about Iran going off the dollar as their reserve currency last November and switching to the Euro. The US government thinks it can't let them do that. The last guy to switch frm the dollar to the Euro as a reserve currency was Sadaam Hussein and look what the US government did to him. China is right to stand up to US pressure, Sanctions have never done anything but strengthen the dictator and hurt the innocent people.
Actually it has nothing to do with the "dollar".
the picture shown on the article is the Chinese president Mr. Hu. Pleae correct this.
From what I can tell, China – bad ol' communist China – has emerged as the international Voice Of Reason during these last years. From ending an ugly civil war to defending international trade to shutting down these latest plans by the war pigs, the Chinese have seemingly morphed into an increasingly stabilizing influence, especially compared to their war-hungry Western counterparts. Of course, the Chinese are primarily looking out for their own interests but who isn't? In fact, it strikes me as the very job description of their politicians to look after the interests of their people – a concept too often lost on the ruling classes over here.
God Bless America.
Agree, and sadly it shows how far we have fallen when the despised communists are more rational than our leaders and citizenry.
As for sanctions, that could possibly make three on the security council, Brazil, Russia, and now China, that could make passage of a resolution calling for harsher sanctions more difficult for the US and it's puppets.
The Chinese don't have a Zionist lobby pulling their strings. I hope htye continue to "defy" American imperialism.
Andy is so right. It is time we cut the cord to the only (non) "democracy" in the ME. Let's make nice to Brazil. More in our interest than Israel!
Andy is right, it is the Israeli Lobby that is the biggest Drain on the USA. It is high time to cut the Strings.
Andy has a soft spot for the Ayatollahs and anyone else who is against the Jews.
And you have a soft-spot between your shoulders.
What "disagreement"/"issue" is it that he is referring to, I wonder? Are the Chinese merely trying to be "polite", by pretending that Empire actually has some legitimate cause, or are they really so breathtakingly naive?