China, with its Security Council veto power and its seat on the board of the governors of the IAEA, plays a key role in how the world deals with Iran.
Should Iran avoid sanctions now, and be allowed to develop its nuclear program – and possibly a nuclear device – Beijing fears this would prompt North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to become even more obstructive in future talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear program. This would endanger China’s carefully crafted position of a peace broker on the Korean Peninsula and present the Chinese leadership with a real nuclear threat across its border.
Yet should China cave in to pressure from the United States and refrain from using its veto power on a resolution condemning Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, that would most certainly jeopardize Beijing’s stable and rising supply of oil from Iran.
CDT EBOOKS
Subscribe to CDT
SUPPORT CDT
Giving Assistant
Anti-censorship Tools
Click on the image to download Firefly for circumvention
