Despite years of haranguing from the US and threats to sanction Pakistan, the Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline will finally be built, by Chinese company CNPC, according to reports.
Initially floated as an Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, the project has been pushed as a way for Pakistan to solve decades of crippling energy shortages that have led to intermittent blackouts in major cities. India withdrew from the project in 2009, saying the prices negotiated were no longer attractive.
Pakistan still wanted and needed the gas, but the US State Department has repeatedly threatened to impose crippling economic sanctions on them for daring to do business with Iran.
The insinuation of a Chinese company into the situation changes it dramatically, and seems to be the result of the latest framework deal with Iran and a planned easing of sanctions.
As a permanent UN Security Council member, China is in a much better position to thumb their nose at idle US threats over the pipeline, and given recent diplomatic progress, it will be difficult for the US to even try to retaliate over the matter.
Not only is China a permanent member of the Security Council, it possesses ICBMs and MIRVs.
China also (buys) much of the 90 (billion) bucks worth
of paper money debt the USG prints each month to keep
the empire afloat.
How dare these Pakistani upstarts negotiate with the dreaded Dragon? And over the US´s objections. What is the World coming to?
Much material for the troops in Afghanistan used to flow through Pakistan. What a way to say "thank you"!
"and given recent diplomatic progress, it will be difficult for the US to even try to retaliate over the matter."
I wouldn't bet on it.
…nor I.
USG can't do a thing to China and everybody knows it.
USG better stick to slugging its punching bags in Yemen,
and any other country (unable) to punch back.
"Defying" implies that the defied has some sort of legitimate authority. The US doesn't.
The better word would be ignoring .