First I read this in the Globe:
"Military leaders, Gates meet on Iran"
BEIJING - China's military leadership yesterday assured US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that it opposes a nuclear-armed Iran. But to the disappointment of Pentagon officials, on a visit here for talks on a range of military issues between the two countries, it appears the Chinese position on Iran's nuclear development, for now, will be no more than words. Chinese military officials told their American counterparts that they believe "discussion" alone - as opposed to economic sanctions - will dissuade Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Gates will make the case for sanctions once more today, when he meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao. (Los Angeles Times November 6, 2007)."
The Times shits it to you this way, readers:
"Gates Questions China on Military Growth
By THOM SHANKER
BEIJING, Nov. 5 — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates looked directly on Monday into two of the most striking facets of modern China.
One is what Pentagon officials say is China’s aggressive modernization of its armed forces. The other is its even more aggressive expansion of the economy and its growing global role.
“China’s increasing political and economic stature calls for this country to take on a greater share of responsibility for the health and success of the international system,” said Mr. Gates, who is making his first visit to China since becoming defense secretary.
Mr. Gates, standing alongside Gen. Cao Gangchuan, China’s defense minister, at a news conference, also said he had raised “the uncertainty over China’s military modernization and the need for greater transparency to allay international concerns.”
Pentagon officials describe China as a “peer competitor” — hardly an adversary, often a partner, yet not a reliable, close ally. The defense secretary’s visit was intended to nurture this complex relationship and press for more open communication over military issues. No major breakthroughs on policy issues were expected during two days of talks, which will conclude Tuesday after a meeting with Hu Jintao, the Chinese president.
Mr. Gates said his discussions were marked by agreements and disagreements. The two sides announced new steps toward establishing a telephone hot line to avert misunderstandings between their militaries. This was viewed as significant by senior Pentagon officials, who said the Chinese government did not have such a line with any other nation.
The New Hot Line!!!
Mr. Gates and his counterparts also announced an agreement to organize a new joint naval exercise, larger and more complex than previous exercises; a plan to exchange military students; and a promise to open Chinese archives to help account for American soldiers still listed as missing from the Korean War.
When asked to respond to American criticisms of the military and expansion, General Cao, the defense minister, replied, “It has been a normal deployment of our military force in our own territory.”
Mr. Gates acknowledged that he had made little headway in getting answers from the Chinese on their unannounced test of an antisatellite weapon in January, in which they destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite. Western governments pressed for an explanation, but the Chinese government took nearly two weeks to publicly confirm the test and to say it had no plans for a space race. Worries over the circumstances and motive of the test remain.
“I raised our concerns about it, and there was no further discussion,” Mr. Gates said.
Mr. Gates also said he had raised with his Chinese hosts “the importance of increased pressures” to persuade Iran to drop any plans to develop nuclear weapons.
Why he is there!
China has growing economic ties with Iran. During Monday’s meetings, Chinese officials expressed an understanding that the nation’s goal of steady energy supplies to power its economy could be threatened by nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, according to senior Pentagon officials traveling with Mr. Gates.
One senior official, speaking on standard diplomatic rules of anonymity to describe the private talks, said late Monday that Chinese officials had agreed that “a nuclear-armed Iran is something we are united in opposing.”
Yeah, the WHOLE WORLD is with us, so says the NYT!
Of course, Russia says they are not building a weapon, and China says TALK ONLY!
But they are with us on Iran.
USrael is ALONE in this world, folks, and stinkshit Amrkns better WAKE UP and SMELL the SHITCROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
