Israel Matzav

Great communicator can't explain facts of life to China

Last month, President Obumbler was in China, where he told Chinese President Hu Jintao that he couldn't hold Israel off forever from attacking Iran's nuclear weapons program. It seemed that the Chinese had gotten the message when they voted to condemn Iran in the IAEA.

But it quickly became clear that the Chinese didn't get it. Just a few days later, the Chinese said that sanctions were not the goal of new UN pressure on Iran, and that the way to resolve Iran's nuclear weapons program was through 'dialogue.'

Until now, it was presumed that the Chinese opposed sanctions because Iran provides most of their oil. What is now clear is that, unlike the Obama administration's actions in most areas of the world, the Chinese are standing on principle. They're standing on the wrong principles, but they are standing on principle all the same.

The Chinese have even refused a Saudi-American initiative designed to end Chinese dependence on Iranian oil, which would allow China to agree to the sanctions, said the Israeli officials.

Saudi Arabia, which is also very worried about the Iranian nuclear program and keen to advance international steps against Iran, offered to supply the Chinese the same quantity of oil the Iranians now provide, and at much cheaper prices. But China rejected the deal.

What's worse is that the Chinese will be chairing the UN Security Council come January.

China's actions are particularly problematic because China will take over the presidency of the UN Security Council in January. Western diplomats say China would have no choice but to join in sanctions if Russia agrees to support them, but China could delay discussions and postpone any decision until February, when France becomes council president.

The Israeli officials say Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is showing a greater willingness for sanctions on Iran, despite hesitations by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

So the Great Communicator cannot convey to the Chinese either the urgency or the moral correctness of imposing sanctions on Iran.

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:37 AM