April 02, 2008
Chinese Provide IAEA With Info on Iranian Nukes
No detail at all in the report, but I think it logical to assume that if the news was that "there's nothing going on," then China would not have bothered to contact the IAEA. The assumption must be that Iran is progressing with their nuclear weapons program, and that China is growing uncomfortable with that progress.
It will be interesting to see what slips out about the details of the Iranian program provided by China to the IAEA. Have the Chinese now determined that Iran has become a threat to their national security as well?
Two additional points.
The Iranians are buying from the Russians. This pokes the Russians in the eye and also reminds Iran that they do not have only one choice for their nuclear purchases.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins at April 2, 2008 11:01 AMOne thing to always keep in mind about China is that the sheer volume of their exports to us means that they are just as wedded to stability in both economics and the US-China relationship as we are. (One is reminded of the saying: If you owe me a thousand dollars, you have a problem. If you owe me a billion dollars... *I* have a problem.)
So they see just as clearly how one loose nuke, or even the capabilty of Iran to have one, could upset the whole applecart.
Worth keeping in mind on this and a host of issues concerning China.
Posted by: Andrew X at April 2, 2008 11:03 AMNow we know the NORKS are exporting factories and expertise to the like of Syria, I hope US intelligence is looking under the sand in every other Arab country.
Posted by: davod at April 3, 2008 07:41 AMMake that Muslim country. Imagine how difficult it would be to find a factory being built in Malaysia or Indonesia. Then again, what about Iranian friendly Venezuala.
Posted by: davod at April 3, 2008 07:44 AM
