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Updated Monday, February 1, 2010 9:25 am TWN, By Dan Martin, AFP

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U.S., China lock horns

The United States is calling for tougher action, including possibly more sanctions, on Iran. China imports significant quantities of Iranian oil and has sizeable investments there.

Jing-dong Yuan, a non-proliferation expert at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California, said the dispute means Washington “should forget about” Chinese support for more sanctions against Tehran.

“Even before the arms sale, China was reluctant to agree to additional sanctions because of its significant economic stakes in that country,” he said.

Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said she expected Beijing to stay engaged on Iran but there was a risk China could overplay its hand out of anger over Taiwan.

“There is a sense in China that their leverage over the United States and their position in the world is growing, and in that sense there might be a little bit of overreaching,” she said.

Taiwan split from the mainland at the end of China's civil war in 1949, but Beijing views the island of 23 million as part of its territory that must be reabsorbed. It has hundreds of missiles targeted against Taiwan.

China's state-run media was mostly mum on the rift Sunday but Xinhua said in a commentary the world needs “healthy, stable and developing China-U.S. ties,” saying the two countries have many “common interests”.

Analysts noted the reaction could have been even sharper had the arms package included the new fighter jets that Taiwan seeks -- it included communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, but no new planes.

But Jason Yuan, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Washington, said the United States could still potentially add F-16s.

China temporarily cut off military contact with the United States when the arms deal was first proposed under the George W. Bush administration in 2008.

But it has gone further this time, reflecting China's growing clout with its economy set to overtake Japan's and its military budget surging.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urged the United States, in comments posted on his ministry's website Sunday, to scrap the sale “to avoid harming overall Sino-U.S. relations.”

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Comments

February 4, 2010 jnb24@

Don’t be silly, America might convince you to be their partner in ruling the world. Don’t fall for such tricks. like Confucius, you should only seek what is just and honest, not compromises which lead to world end and wars the US plans against Iran ,next you too. By approving even a small signature for the US against Iran, you are allowing them to Use it as permission for attack. Do not be cheap. Say no, and become and stay honorable. The whole planet will remember you as honorable. Be cheap once by bargaining with America (needlessly), and you will lose respect for ever.