China’s a big friend of Iran indeed.
China views itself as the leader of Asia. It bitterly resents when non Asians especially Americans exert diplomatic, economic and military pressure in Asia. Americans should remember that Japan once saw itself in that role. They saw British, French, Dutch and American political and economic control in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and China a source of humiliation and shame. The Japanese people were rallied to war to rid Asia of non Asian influence. Today China sees itself in that role. It views Iran as a reliable source of oil and gas and Iran’s 80,000,000 citizens as consumers for its export oriented economy. The Chinese bitterly resented American coercive policies in the area. They would have publicly postured in the event of serious American losses in the Gulf, but privately they would ave been joyous about an American humiliation much the way the Arab street was after 9/11.America in the end has very few real friends. It has only interests. would