Posted on 09/06/2025 7:18:15 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Two wars — Ukraine and Gaza — are killing civilians, destabilizing allies, and draining American power. At their core stand Russia and Iran, two regimes that cannot survive without Beijing’s support. If America wants to end these conflicts on terms that serve U.S. interests, it must compel China to use its leverage — or face consequences. Only Donald Trump has the toughness and pragmatism to make that happen.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has leveled cities, created Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, and cost American taxpayers tens of billions in aid. Hamas’s assault on Israel and the regional war it triggered have killed tens of thousands, disrupted global energy markets, and dragged Iran and its terrorist proxies into the center of the conflict. Gaza lies in ruins, Israel strains under the burden of war mobilization, Arab economies are rattled by refugees and lost trade, and America is paying the bill.
The costs are not abstract. American families see them in higher gas prices, billions sent overseas, and the spread of terrorism that now reaches our own cities. The recent ISIS-inspired attack in New Orleans was a reminder that these wars are not “over there.” They are already on our shores. Washington cannot afford endless proxy wars while its rivals consolidate power.
The truth is that neither Moscow nor Tehran can continue these wars without Beijing. By 2024, trade between Russia and China had reached nearly $245 billion a year. China buys almost half of Russia’s oil and gas and much of its coal. In return, Moscow depends on Chinese machinery, electronics, and cars. Iran is even more exposed: About 90 percent of its crude oil exports go to China. For Beijing, that oil is only ten percent of imports; for Tehran, it is survival.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The choice presented to China would be simple: Help end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza or pay the price of global isolation and economic warfare. If Beijing cooperates, peace becomes possible. Ukraine could achieve a ceasefire that preserves its sovereignty while addressing Russia’s security concerns. Gaza could be rebuilt with American-led investment, contingent on demilitarization and Iran’s retreat. Terrorism and antisemitism, already spreading like cancer across continents, could be confronted as shared threats rather than ignored.
If Beijing refuses, then Washington has every justification to escalate sanctions, tariffs, and decoupling. Either way, America wins: peace if China cooperates, stronger leverage if it does not.
Author is a moron.
Dude’s on dope.
re: Dude’s on dope.
Please elaborate. Thanks.
China needs to be kissed up to in order for Iran to be ‘regime changed’ 600,000 Chinese students being allowed into our country points to that scenario playing out.
Trump can’t help them with Taiwan. They won’t play.
The numbers do not look correct.
China consumes 16.6 million bpd. They do have some northeast domestic production . . . about 4.6 mbpd.
So import has to be 12 mbpd.
Russia sells them 2.2 mbpd. This is the largest source. And it is growing. They spread the rest around. (Note that China buying zero Russian oil would not be crushing, other than to China. Russia exports about 4.7 mbpd crude and another 2 mbpd refined products. There are obviously others to pick up the slack.) And China can’t find that much from others.
KSA, UAE and Iraq are significant sources. Ditto Brazil and even the US, though orders to the US from coastal refineries have stopped. Not permanent. US export capacity will be shrinking soon, so it doesn’t matter.
Iran has no official total of oil sent to China. There is trans-shipment suspicion and this for Asia is usually routed thru Malaysia and Singapore. This Iran oil will total about 1 mbpd, but their exports are 1.7. So it’s a lot going indirectly to China but 90% is just not right. No horrible conspiracy. Because it is indirect flow, people can imagine numbers higher.
Important item. Look at the north of Iran on a map. The Caspian sea. Small tankers ply oil back and forth all over that water. Baku port, and Kazahk and Russian ports can intermix that oil with other sources. Iran gets paid and sanctions dodged. It all doesn’t have to leave through the Persian Gulf.
Both the UAE and Venezuela buy oil from Iran. It’s a matter of all oil is not created equal. Iran oil can be cheaper than domestic production. And have constituent yield more desirable at some point in time.
The world of oil has predictions of Chinese consumption for this year. Some say +1%. Some says 0%. They average 4% over many years.
India was +5% last year. There is just no reasonable way for them to reduce Russian purchases.
“Moscow depends on Chinese machinery, electronics, and cars.”
The Russians have already bought the Chinese machinery and the used, German origin, formerly Chinese-owned machinery they are likely to need.
As long as Russia has about as many cars as it did during 1989, it will get by, and around.
As for electronics, the Russians are working hard to become independent, at least for military needs. Cellphones have very capable electronics, and Russia has millions of cellphones.
Premier Khruschev’s Russia got by without substantial Chinese oil purchases or exports to Russia.
Is this the author?
Shraga F. Biran is the founder of one of Israel’s leading law firms and an entrepreneur specializing in energy and international real estate. He lives in Tel Aviv.
China will see it as weakness and say we’ll help this if you let us “repatriate” Taiwan.
Thanks for the helpful, concise summary. I appreciate your thoughtfulness for the readers.
The Neo & NATO-Cons are warmongering liars. We are ones whose worldview is wrong today.
We still wabt to rule the world as is being done since Clinton and the world is being isolated by our own aggression and policies.
The EU is finished. The US forced the world to choose self interest or American friendship.
When the world unites against people who tel l the world we are going to war with China when we finish Russia you get the idiot author.
This well intentioned writer is adrift in la-la land.
Can you please elaborate, instead of simply ridiculing the writer?
You sound like a neocon? The United States is not a vassal state?
If everyday Americans can see how the Badaras Ideaology has infected and controls the Ukrainian leadership and military, then bringing anothered “murdered” Ukrainian into the knowledge space is educational.
So you must be offended that you support a Bandaras government? Because of this very government, we have 10m Ukrainian refugees outside Ukraine - either fleeing Zelinski’s US installed government, or the war. Most are fleeing the government the US installed and supports.
Sorry! Just saw this. Checked in yesterday for a few minutes to see if FR was back on, and this thread caught my eye before I got to work here at home for the day.
Anyway, sad as it is, I am afraid that the great USA right now simply no longer has the power or balance of power to coerce Red China in such a serious crossroad for them.
Second of all, I don't support Zelensky one but. I just don't support your globalist master
Third of all, there are many valid criticisms of Zelensky, but yours is just laughable. You provided absolutely no evidence of a connection between Bandera and Zelensky, who was born two decades after the former died. What's more he's a secular Jew. You provided no other proof other than they were both Ukrainian at some point in history.
C'mon, you've been a Freeper for more than 25 years, and that is the best you can do? You will sell out your own country for this?
Well, you may not be aware that China has a lot of very serious problems of their own. And China, throughout history, has never been able to project power outside their own borders.
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