Oil and Ideology Keep China From Joining Effort to Press Iran

Washington Post by Jon Pomfret | Sep. 30, 2009 (News Report)

In its effort to muster support for sterner action against Iran, the Obama administration will have to overcome China's reluctance to punish a country that is one of its top oil suppliers and a major beneficiary of its energy-related investments. Full Story »

Posted by Derek Hawkins - via NewsRack (Energy)

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3.4

by Manfred Ostrowski - Oct. 1, 2009

The opinion of John Pomfret puts China in an unpleasant position. Basically, the article accuses China of being unhelpful for egoistical reasons. The article then adds the issue of China's ideology; I found this part and John Pomfret's point of view not very convincing.

The article displays no sympathy for the Iranian people. John Pomfret takes the merits of strong action against Iran for granted: Iran is the bad one, Iran must be punished. John Pomfret seems to push for some U.S. led joint international effort to punish Iran, but this will necessarily put the U.S. government in a position where it must "win" against Iran in order not to lose its face, where president Obama is set to show strong leadership. In this scenario there is not much room for friendly dialog, compromise, or peaceful cooperation.

In its effort to muster support for sterner action against Iran, the Obama administration will have to overcome China’s reluctance to punish a country..