Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Global South strategic cooperation
- Thread starter Strangelove
- Start date
Iran hasn't done anything to connect China to Europe. None of the BRI projects to Europe involve them. The current south route all involve going through Caspian Sea. China is connecting into Afghanistan through either Pakistan or Central Asian countries. Iran hasn't done a thing for BRI.
destroy Iran and Chabahar port and Gwadar will be a lot more successful. CPEC will be a lot more successful.
You forget that Pakistan is a loyal ally of China for many decades now. Don't you dare comparing Pakistan to Iran. Pakistanis actually like China.
Keep Iran on a short leash gets them cheap energy from Iran also. Until Western countries start treating Iran better, why does China need to be nicer tot them?
China is working on winning the entire Arab nations over while this "choosing side" has only pissed of a few people in Iran. All the time that China didn't gang up against Iran, did Iranian liberals chose to look at China favorably or did they continue to look at China with suspicion? You can't work with these people.
China didn't choose side. However, China has decided to enhanced its relationship with GCC countries. For all the grandstanding about the great potential of relationship between China and Iran, nothing really concrete has happened over the years. I don't think China would wait for Iran to come around and become a vital part of China's trade and strategic partner.
You need to remember when the US lifted its embargo against Iran a few years back. China not only didn't get any big contracts but actually lost many deals that were promised to China. Iran has its own interests and its liberals are strongly against China and only wants to develop a good relationship with the West.
However, I do agree that China shouldn't involve in regional dispute. Although for this instance, China only repeated its previous stance of peaceful resolution over any dispute out of respect for GCC. It might look like a win for Saudi but nothing actually changes.
keep in mind that China has had ballistic missiles facilities in Saudi Arabia since the 80s. There is really nothing about FC-31 that's so secretive that would prevent China from selling it or letting it be produced in Saudi Arabia. Keep in mind the persistent rumors of 3 CAB sale. If anything, US military is far more concerned about Chinese weapon systems taking over Saudi Arabia. That's why they didn't publicly announce any military deal with China this time around. It would've really scared Washington. But China and Saudi relationship is going to keep developing. Saudi Arabia is China's secret ally in the Middle East.
Xi Jinping has promised to provide defense, military and security aids to the Arab countries, including "cooperation on (defense-) specific technologies (专业技术)". To me it is likely about sales of Chinese weapon systems or even technology transfers.
习近平在首届中国－阿拉伯国家峰会上提出中阿务实合作“八大共同行动”
八是安全稳定共同行动。中方将同阿方加强防务部门和军队间的战略对话、军兵种交往、院校交流，深化海上安全、国际维和、专业技术等领域合作，拓展联演联训和人员培训；为阿方培训1500名智慧警务建设、网络安全执法等领域人员；共同落实《中阿数据安全合作倡议》，建立中阿网信交流机制，加强数据治理、网络安全等领域交流对话。There is no western investment in Saudi，I don't see any，Saudi never was an attractive place for western investors. It is Saudi that invests alot abroad，not the other way around. Including China，Saudi has more investment in China than China's investment in Saudi
China knows the future market lies In the global south，not the west
The Americans will try to counter with charm offensive everywhere but the Chinese diplomacy is top-notch currently hard to out-do them.
China's diplomatic game has changed alot in the last decade to very effective which can match now US charm offensive diplomacy. This is where the USSR failed last time to compete against the US which is in the diplomacy arena. This is where things are gained. China is now showchasing some savvy diplomacy tactics
China's diplomatic game has changed alot in the last decade to very effective which can match now US charm offensive diplomacy. This is where the USSR failed last time to compete against the US which is in the diplomacy arena. This is where things are gained. China is now showchasing some savvy diplomacy tactics
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Iran not only is isolated region, but they are surrounded by three side enemies (turkey, Taliban and gcc) right now. But too bad china needs Iran as stretegic buffer zone so xinjiang can be free from terrorists (especially from turkey)
China trying to end hostilities between Iran and gcc is a thing that must do.
China should make Iran and gcc to contain turkey.
Pakistan can't be trusted now. After coup against Imran khan
Has China committed to BRI projects in Iran? Or has China dropped Iran immediately if asked to by the US pre Trump? For Iran, China has always been a lot of promises with little delivered. When Chinese companies were awarded contracts, they didn't develop the fields and appeared to delay. Of course China has also bought small amounts of Iranian oil during trump's maximum pressure campaign. And Iran has increasingly turned to Chinese cars and other industrial products. But if China wants good relations with Iran, it has to actually deliver the promised investments rather than just talk. And China did support UN sanctions on Iran at America's request. Iran wants more BRI, but will China give more?
Pakistan isn't failing because of competition from chabahar, which is not a significant port today. Pakistan has a failed political system and Pashtun terrorists. It's very corrupt and partially controlled by the CIA. Pakistan could have been like Bangladesh, they only have themselves to blame for failing in that
Most of the Arab world doesn't care about Iran. Some Arab countries like Algeria, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Houthi government in Yemen and Qatar have pretty good relations with Iran. Iran has a lot more sympathy in Arab populations for its support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Iran has friendly ties with Turkmenistan and Pakistan and some influence in Afghanistan.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran are all struggling for influence in the region. Supporting Saudi Arabia and their partners Egypt and the UAE won't help in getting more market access in the wider Arab world and risks supporting Saudi Arabia's export of Wahhabi extremism. But Saudi Arabia and Iran have no territorial disputes. They don't need to be enemies if the US isn't in the region anymore. China should promote trade and peace between them rather than following the US strategy of sowing division.