Key Issues in China-Iran Relations

Abstract

Wide range cooperation and close bilateral relations between China and Iran have been under huge pressure from the US-led West. The main objective of this paper is to analyze what lines behind the China-Iran relations, mainly from three dimensions, i.e., economic, nuclear and strategic issues. We argue that the China-Iran relations are determined by domestic situations in both countries and international strategic environment, influenced by the shift of US geopolitical strategy in recent years. China should not be blamed for the failure of sanctions against Iran for its nuclear issues as she is not a so-called ally of Iran. The Iran nuclear issues can be solved by the use of US "smart power" and collective efforts derived from international cooperation between concerned powers and geopolitical players. China and Iran have featured heavily in the news in recent years. China is both a military and economic power with 20% of the world's population; Iran is suspected of developing nuclear weapons and arming terrorists, and sits on the world's second-largest oil and gas reserves. They are also surprisingly close geographically: Iran is only 700 miles across Afghanistan from China's extreme western border. A 25-year, $100 billion deal for Iran to supply China with oil and gas and a large number of Chinese companies operating in Iran show that the two are moving increasingly closer in both political and economic terms. But what does this mean for the rest of the world, and 40 especially for the "West"? This paper examines the key issues in China-Iran relations and attempts to analyze what the likely consequences for the world of an alliance between them.