China defends Iran oil trade despite U.S. push

[xchrom]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/uk-china-us-iran-idUKTRE80A0CT20120111

http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20120111&t=2&i=557030210&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2012-01-11T103842Z_1_BTRE80A0TKL00_RTROPTP_0_CHINA-US-IRAN
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (L) chats with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a meeting at the Zhongnanhai Purple Pavilion in Beijing January 11, 2012.
Credit: Reuters/Andy Wong/Pool

(Reuters) - China gave no hint on Wednesday of giving ground to U.S. demands to curb Iran's oil revenues, rejecting Washington's sanctions on Tehran as overstepping even as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner lobbied for Beijing's support.

Geithner met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday, before Wen's trip starting on Saturday to top oil supplier Saudi Arabia, whose output could be important if China turns elsewhere for crude it would otherwise buy from Iran.

"On economic growth, on financial stability around the world, on non-proliferation, we have what we view as a very strong, cooperative relationship with your government and we are looking forward to building on that," Geithner told Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping earlier in the day.

Geithner is touring Asia to muster support for U.S. sanctions on oil revenues flowing to Tehran, which Western governments say wants to develop the means to make nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian uses, not weapons proliferation.

[Hugabear]

1. Why should they?

This is a manufactured crisis for the US, not China. Why should China give in to temper tantrums in Washington DC?

[lsewpershad]

2. Because

of american exceptionalism. We are the owners of the universe.

[Hugabear]

3. Well there is that

I suppose China should just know their natural place in the universe...which is under our thumb.

Come to think of it, how did the world get by before the United States came around to make everything right?