Despite its many political differences with Washington, Beijing does not want to pick a fight on Iran with the United States. For China sees itself as a responsible power and cannot encourage

Iran’s nuclear defiance.

After his vote last Saturday in the unanimous UNSC resolution 1747, which builds on the first set of sanctions imposed last December, the Chinese permanent representative to the UN outlined Beijing’s position.

“China respects and recognises Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, we also feel disappointed that the Iranian side has failed to respond positively to the requests of the IAEA and the Security Council. Under such circumstances, we support the Security Council in taking further and appropriate actions to urge the Iranian side to suspend enrichment-related activities, in order to bring the process back to the negotiation track,” ambassador Wang Guangya declared.

Russia, which tried hard to finesse a deal with Tehran, has not only given up on the effort but has decided to suspend plans to supply enriched uranium fuel to the power reactor it is building at Bushehr in Iran.

That Iran is completely isolated is reflected by the fact that South Africa and Indonesia, two of our leading friends in the non-aligned movement and current members of the UN Security Council, voted with the sanctions resolution to make it unanimous.

Gwadar Plus

After the inauguration of the Chinese funded Gwadar port on Baluchistan’s coast at the mouth of the Persian Gulf last week, the focus is now on Beijing’s plans to build a mega petrochemical city there.

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