Clinton: China risks diplomatic isolation over Iran
Clinton: China must recognize the negative impact a nuclear-armed Iran would have in the region.
By The Associated Press Tags: Hillary Clinton Iran nuclear Israel newsU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned China on Friday it risks diplomatic isolation and disruption to its energy supplies unless it helps keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Speaking in Paris, Clinton said she and others who support additional sanctions on Iran for refusing to prove it has peaceful nuclear intentions are lobbying China to back new UN penalties on the Iranian government.
She said she understood China's reluctance to impose new penalties on Iran, its third-largest supplier of oil. But she stressed that a nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the Persian Gulf and imperil oil shipments China gets from other Arab states in the region.
There is a new push for sanctions at the UN because of Iran's continued refusal to engage on the matter with the five permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - and Germany.
Administration officials have invited new talks with Iran, but with no sign that Iran wants to do business, the focus has turned to penalties.
"As we move away from the engagement track, which has not produced the result that some had hoped for, and move forward on the pressure and sanctions track, China will be under a lot of pressure to recognize the destabilizing impact that a nuclear-armed Iran would have in the Gulf, from which they receive a significant percentage of their oil supplies," Clinton said.
The United States is the most visible leader in the new push for UN Security Council sanctions, and Clinton spent much of her time in Europe this week lobbying major powers whose support she needs to pass and enforce new economic penalties. Some of the additional measures that will be proposed target elements of Iran's powerful militia structure, U.S. officials said.
The Obama administration has said Iran appears bent on developing nuclear weapons, although Iran claims its nuclear work is peaceful. Iran is thought to have stockpiled more than enough nuclear material to manufacture a single bomb, and more is being made daily.
Clinton said the risks of an Iranian bomb are manifold.
"It will produce an arms race, in the Persian Gulf, and Israel will feel its very existence threatened," Clinton said in response to a question from an audience member during a speech at a French military academy. "All of that is incredibly dangerous."
The United States has cautioned Israel publicly against a pre-emptive strike on Iran's known nuclear facilities, arguing that such an attack would invite an arms race and retaliation.
China warns U.S. arms deal with Taiwan could harm ties
China warned the United States on Saturday that its announcement of arms sales to Taiwan would seriously damage cooperation between the two global powers, and voiced swift and sharp anger at the Obama administration.
The comments were made by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, who said his government was "strongly indignant" about the proposed arms sales to Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province.
The Obama administration notified the U.S. Congress on Friday of its first proposed arms sales to Taiwan, a potential e6.4 billion package including Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot "Advanced Capability-3" anti-missile missiles, and command-and-control technology. eID:nN29147355u
Beijing quickly responded with a warning that the arms sale could jeopardise important bonds of cooperation with Washington, which has looked to China for support in surmounting the financial crisis, dealing with Iran and North Korea, and seeking international agreement on fighting climate change.
Vice Minister He said the arms sales were "crude interference in China's domestic affairs and seriously harm China's national security," in remarks published on the Foreign Ministry website (www.mfa.gov.cn).
"China expresses its strong indignation."
He did not spell out how Beijing might retaliate against Washington, but suggested his government's anger would be felt in a number of areas.
"The United States' announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," he said. A copy of his remarks was delivered to the U.S. ambassador to China.
He urged the United States to halt the planned sales, saying that otherwise "This will lead to repercussions that neither side wishes to see."
Taiwan has been governed separately from China since 1949, when Nationalist forces, defeated in the civil war, fled to the island to escape the victorious Communists. Ever since, Beijing has demanded that Taiwan accept unification, threatening it could resort to force.
Washington says it is legally obliged to help Taiwan defend itself and wants the island and Beijing to settle their dispute peacefully.
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take it form this ex military boy, we you crap when we hear it, and your post was stinking, don't give us that BS, if iran went out of line china would overtake it in a day.
Isolating China is going to rather difficult. Last year, China export 1.5 Trillion dollars worth of goods and services. And import 1.2 Trillion dollars of goods and services. And holds 700 billion dollars of U.S. Treasury bonds.
"The US asks for China`s help while it arms Taiwan to the teeth." - Mark from London What was sold is not 'arming Taiwan to the teeth." It is VERY annoying to the Chinese and comes at a time when America needs China far more than China needs the USA. Few now remember that the first international boycott to have a major influence in international affairs of the 20th century was the boycott of American imports by Chinese people back in 1906. China remembers. America owes China trillions, and is dependent upon China buying our national debt. And China knows that too.
The Obama administration made a big mistake when it allowed the deal cut under the Bush administration to go through. The situation where China was onboard to not stop new sanctions against Iran is now in danger. It is not hard to see the factors which dominated. The Defense Industry is a big republican contributor, and it is one of the few industries which is largely unionized. The US needs any exports it can get right now. So the actions of the Obama administration are not insane. But they clearly show that internal US considerations trump foreign policy considerations.
rising power with global influence, the world is in big trouble. The US should call China on this.China is being irresponsible thinking of itself and not the result of a nuclear Iran but then it is not much better than Iran to women,freedom and has often shot its own protesters so why the surprise.Clinton should tell china to be more humane
funny how america is now threatening china, the biggest in the world, first it threatens it because china supports iran on the nuke issue, then it sells taiwan defense systems, haveing said that, america says it wants allow tawian to defend itself, but yet won't allow pals, lebs and syrians to do the same against a country that has been threatening them for years. hypocritical and on a suicide mission, why? america wants to dominate the world like hitler, but on the quiet.
It's obvious, China's clock ticks to a different timetable. They see progress or failure in monetary terms. When you got billions of oil imports at stake, you try not to rock the boat. Still... that doesn't mean the US and the EU must comply to China's every whim or fancy. After all, the Chinese economy is dependent on American buying power. Africa, Asia and the Middle East can't provide the consumption on the scale China has gotten used to. It's time to put the Great Buddha... in it's proper place. Sanctions on Tehran can be imposed with US strategic concerns in mind... and let China deal with it or not.
That is the kind of thinking and statements you get when you have amateurs running the country. China can buy this country lock, stock and barrel.
You're absolutly right China has worked herself up and is holding a lot of American currencie. However, you have to take China's econmy into perspective. First everything china manufactures is designed abroad, China doesn't have a leadership in technology as USA or Europe. China derives its wealth from manufacturing cheap goods for export. USA being the largest market. The average salary is $100.00 per month so the people are not wealthy. I was in China when the USA entered the recession and cancelled orders from China's producers. The Chinees closed 11,000 factories putting between 10 million and 20 million people out of work. Yes China has come a long way, but if the USA stops trading with China it's economy will go into a tailspin
It's very convenient to blame Israel,however, USA is not having a confrontation with Iran on Israels behalf but for its own economic survival and Europe is in for the same reason. If Iran develops a nuke it will controll the oil supply to the world, endengering economic survival of USA and her European allies. The USA can't allow anybody controll supply of oil. Control of oil means control over US economy and its standard of living. Remember, a nations economy is responsible for its military power,and the USA will not allow anybody to destroy her economy.
ha ha ha! What is China, one-third, one-half of the planet's population? And the main mojo debt-owning float to the American economy? Not likely isolated.
America's foolish policy of out-sourcing has come a semi-circle to hit America on her nut. For a dazzling easy to make money America sold her software,her enterprises,& manufacturing skills gained through decades of hard work & experiments for a transient profit. Today America & others who followed suit might feel sorry.But damage has been done. Will America & other countries be able to recall spme of the out-sourcing works ? The future will tell. The Americans,not the Jews stupid,love money so much. See who are the main billioners in the world today. But that won't be for too long. The Chinese Dragon is moving slowly,but surely to the center of power. Look out the window. You can see it coming. Look out ! It's already here !
The worlds fastast growing economy with one fifth of the worlds population (and all of America's debt) risking diplomatic isolation for not following the pro Israel/Anti Iran line to the full extent! I never knew Hillary Clinton was as great a comedian as Benjamin Netanyahu!
No one besides Israel is threatening war Keith. The rest of the nations involved have a goal which is not incompatible with the STATED objectives of Iran. The goal is to have Iran come into complete compliance with the NPT and it's Additional Protocols.
Blair at the iraqinquiery showed nicenst what the UNSC still is. China is free and does not need friends of that kind.
the US/Israel can have any hope of isolating China. What drugs was hil taking when she said this stupid thing? China is a world power who supplies most of the world with manufactured goods, many of them vital to the functioning of other countries. If the US tries to pick a fight with China, they will find out real quick that China has a whole lot more power than the US has. BTW - China can sink the US economically just by starting a rumor that they are not going to loan the US any more money and they are selling dollars. Within a few minutes the US economy would be deader than a Chinese dissident. What a foolish statement.
How deeply in debt to America is China? How deeply in debt to China is America? What happens if China decides to respond to your threats by refusing to buy our national debt?
many people a lot smarter and more well positioned than you have repeatedly said, we know what iran is up to. But you, like mark lincoln, both posters on a crappy board, a public one at that, say that YOU are sure there is no evidence, which is laughable! iran hid their program for over 18 yrs until it was outed by the opposition..ishfahan was a secret. and tell me, why is their program, (after being revealed),why is it disperesed and fortified underground if its for civilian use? they have been caught red handed at qom, and also with high altitude detonation schematics and simulations, not to mention the ties between their missile production and specialized cones that fit nuclear weapons...the evidence is overwhelming..and, EVEN if as you say it is not proven, the very CHANCE that it is true, with iran being on record as saying they will use them to wipe israel off the map, well, it's not even a 1% chance israel can afford..but hey, you live in londonistan, so there you go.
The Chinese and the rest of the world ask a simple question: If Israel can flaunt the Non-Proliferation Treaty and introduce an arsenal of H-bombs to the Mideast, why can't Iran respond? The Chinese don't understand why the U.S. has subordinated its foreign policy to the interests of Israel, but they certainly do not intend to due the same.
China has spent the past decade building themselves up to a point where they rival the US in wealth and influence. The 20th Century has been called the American Century. The 21st looks like it will belong to China. They have most of our manufacturing jobs. Chinese made products dominate American store shelves. Bush ignored Chinese growth for his full term in office. It is too late for the US to respond now.
Here we go again. Just like Iraq. No intelligence, but paranoid Israel leading the US on.
What a dumb statement from her. China isn't worried a fading superpower. It's the world's largest exporter; has over a trillion in dollar reserves; and China owns over a trillion in US securities. And btw, since we are arming Taiwan, China will probably arm Iran. She can certainly kiss China's help on the UNSC goodbye.
china does not takes threats from US seriously...with the amount of US bonds it holds it owns US
The Chinese will terribly worried that the US will stop selling them mounds of treasury debt and start living within its means.
China and Russia will never impose sanctions on Iran. They don't answer to AIPAC. LOL!
China intransigence in many conflicts of the world. Arming ilegal militas in Sudan and other countries in Africa. Its time to hold tight loose on China.