Overview -- Context: China's stance on Iran's nuclear development -- Bilateral energy, trade, and investment ties -- Political calculations -- The approach to sanctions: delay and weaken -- Conclusion
Summary
The revelation in 2009 of nuclear facilities near Qom intensified international criticism of Iran's opaque nuclear development. As Western countries prepare to pursue tougher sanctions at the UN, China's acquiescence as a permanent Security Council member is vital but will be difficult to obtain. Beijing is reluctant to pursue further sanctions, insisting that a solution to the nuclear impasse must be sought first and foremost through diplomacy. It emphasises that as long as Iran honours its Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) commitments not to use nuclear technology for military purposes, it should not be obliged to forgo its rights, including enrichment, under that accord. Beijing is unconvinced that Iran has the ability to develop nuclear weapons in the short term and does not share the West's sense of urgency about the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran, despite the risks that this would present to China's long-term interests
Notes
Caption title from title screen (viewed February 22, 2010)
