Posted on 11/07/2004 5:08:53 AM PST by CranberrySauce
Iran wants China to replace Japan as its biggest importer of oil and gas, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was reported as saying here.
"Japan is our number one energy importer due to historical reasons ... but we would like to give preference to exports to China," Zanganeh was quoted as saying the China Business Weekly magazine.
"From the supply side, we have no difficulties (in making China the top energy oil importer from Iran)," the minister added.
Iran and China last week signed a preliminary accord under which China will buy 10 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 25 years in a deal worth 100 billion dollars.
The memorandum of understanding also grants to Chinese oil giant Sinopec the right to exploit the Yadavaran oil field on a buy-back basis in cooperation with a major international oil company.
On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Tehran that Beijing opposed US efforts to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear programme.
"It would only make the issue more complicated and difficult to work out," Li said during a news conference.
The United States accuses Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of its civilian atomic energy program and wants the UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take Iran before the UN Security Council when the IAEA meets in Vienna on November 25.
"It would only make the issue more complicated and difficult to work out," Li said during a news conference.
Isn't that the idea?
That's about the stupidest thing Iran could possibly do at this juncture, having pretty done much everything else: taunt a superpower, openly develop nukes, open develop missiles, yell insults at Israel, infiltrate the Iraqi border, and it makes me wonder if they haven't been adding a little extra lead to the water over there.
Iran needs Japan to be dependent on it, because respecting that dependency is one of the few things that could even slow the U.S. down on taking out Iran. If they remove that obstacle, well, hello Tehran.
The U.S. has already been suggesting to Japan to move to Libyan oil; this could seal that move.
Well, when you think you have seen a mad mullah max out the stupidity meter, here they go again. They might as well keep it pegged, because a ride like that is literally a once-in-a-lifetime event.
First off, you can't kill everybody. War has its purpose, but let us keep the goal in mind: defeating the islamo-fascists and securing the United States.
Suppose Iran and China develop strong trade relations. China needs the United States as an export market. Iran needs China as a reliable customer for its oil and gas. If they engage in mutually beneficial trade the standard of living in both countries improves. This alone gives both peoples a greater stake in a peaceful world. Just take China by itself. The "capitalization" of China has moderated the whacko Maoists who run the place. The very same thing may well happen in Iran.
Look. There are many possible outcomes. The Chinese and the Iranians may well be conspiring to rule the world through nuclear intimidation and terrorism. But the consequences of this for both nations would be obvious and it would not mean peace and prosperity.
On another level, whack-job Islamist nutballs and Chinese Communists are not going to be natural allies. Especially if they both are driven by competing visions of world hegemony. Let's wait and see how this plays out.
anything posted in the "china daily" needs to be taken with more than a pinch of salt -- it's as bad as Pravda was in the 60s
plus also the Iranis and Chinese forget that to get Iran's oil to China they got to pass by India, and you can bet the Indian navy will have each one of those convoys in it's sites ready to blast away if China tries anything funny on India's northern borders
Slight problem-India is also a big importer of Iranian oil-a dependence that will only increase.It's also going to depend on where the Iranians would stand in an Sino-Indian conflict.& don't leave out Paki-land.
But this just isn't a speel of the governtment line. It is reporting an event that actually occurred.
We agree on this one thing. It IS easier to just bypass the un. I guess the chicoms forgot we did that once, already.
You sound like you work for the state dept.
EEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!
I shall cutoff off my blogging hands at once and retire to a cave.
LOL!!! On second thought, you DO have a sense of humor...
Ping
Oh boy. As if we needed another kink in the U.S. - China relationship.
The IAEA will no doubt do nothing on November 25 or thereafter about pressing Iran's hands to the fire. All world bodies are impotent.
Ruth, we could really use you and others over at TM...
>>>Iran wants China to replace Japan as its biggest importer of oil and gas, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was reported as saying here.
What happened with the Russian contracts? Is Russia distancing themselves with China?
I believe the border problem between China and India is going to get settled. China has already fully settled all the border problems with Russia. They also settled with Vietnam, including martime borders. There are signs that China is healing its relationship with India. One of the most famous slogans that the Chinese Premier has conveyed to India was that China and India had been friends for 2000 years, which comprises of 99.9% of time and conflicted with each other for about 2 years, less than 0.1%. I suspect China and India will become close friends. However, the relation won't be more hostile as now for sure.
I don't think India (and any other country) will cut China's oil line, unless the US lead the way. This is the same situation as for Taiwan. If war breaks out between the two side along the strait and if the US won't involve, NO country will. Japan, south Korea, Philippine? they are all Mr. independable.
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