China's Xi says Iran tensions worrying, calls for restraint

[webfact]

China's Xi says Iran tensions worrying, calls for restraint

 

FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcoming ceremony for Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos outside the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China May 14, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - A rise in tensions in the Middle East owing to U.S. pressure on Iran is worrying and all parties need to exercise restraint, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russian media ahead of a visit to the country.

 

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated in the past month, a year after the United States pulled out of a deal between Iran and global powers to curb Tehran's nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions.

 

Washington reimposed sanctions last year and tightened them sharply at the start of last month, ordering all countries to halt imports of Iranian oil. It has also hinted at military confrontation, sending extra forces to the region to counter what it describes as Iranian threats.

 

Xi told TASS news agency and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper that because of the "extreme pressure" Washington has put on Tehran and the unilateral sanctions, tensions have continued to rise in the Middle East.

 

"The development of the situation is worrying," Xi said, according to a transcript published by China's Foreign Ministry ahead of his arrival in Russia on Wednesday.

 

The Iran nuclear deal should be fully implemented and respected, as it is of crucial importance for peace and stability in the Middle East and non-proliferation, Xi added.

 

"China and Russia's views and positions on the Iran nuclear issue are highly aligned, and both hope that all relevant parties remain rational and exercise restraint, step up dialogue and consultations and lower the temperature on the present tense situation," he said.

 

China has been angered by U.S. threats against countries and companies that violate U.S. sanctions by importing Iranian oil. China and Iran have close energy ties.

 

Xi did not directly address the oil sanctions issue, but appeared to allude to them by saying: "China will continue to firmly safeguard its own legitimate and lawful rights and interests".

 

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Darren Schuettler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-05

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[smedly]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

China will continue to firmly safeguard its own legitimate and lawful rights and interests

China is a real model of diplomacy and honoring lawful rights

[Kiwiken]

Apart from their view on the South China sea. Where else do you see them infringing others. Other major players interfere with friend and foe alike and lot more

[Morch]

3 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Apart from their view on the South China sea. Where else do you see them infringing others. Other major players interfere with friend and foe alike and lot more

 

Standing territorial issues with Taiwan, India, Bhutan, Japan. Whether Tibet is included in the least is a choice. And, of course, that "South China Sea" thing involves quite a few conflicts with several countries - lumping it together notwithstanding.

 

Numerous instances of espionage, industrial and otherwise vs. other nations. Numerous instances of leveraging trade and might to further interests. Economic involvement in poorer countries tailored to fit the PRC's needs and agenda, sometimes at the expense of hosts.

 

But then you must have known all that.

[Kiwiken]

On 6/6/2019 at 5:12 AM, Morch said:

 

Standing territorial issues with Taiwan, India, Bhutan, Japan. Whether Tibet is included in the least is a choice. And, of course, that "South China Sea" thing involves quite a few conflicts with several countries - lumping it together notwithstanding.

 

Numerous instances of espionage, industrial and otherwise vs. other nations. Numerous instances of leveraging trade and might to further interests. Economic involvement in poorer countries tailored to fit the PRC's needs and agenda, sometimes at the expense of hosts.

 

But then you must have known all that.

That is the point Outside of the south China sea there is nothing china is doing that has not already been done by the USA, Britain, France,Japan and several other developed countries to further their own interests. 

[Morch]

23 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

That is the point Outside of the south China sea there is nothing china is doing that has not already been done by the USA, Britain, France,Japan and several other developed countries to further their own interests. 

 

That is not a point. That's not even the point that appeared in your post:

 

Quote

Apart from their view on the South China sea. Where else do you see them infringing others.

 

Read my post again.

 

Quote

Other major players interfere with friend and foe alike and lot more

 

I don't know that's a fact, or that there's a generally accepted way of adding it up. Regardless, how does it get China off the hook?

[rabas]

2 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

That is the point Outside of the south China sea there is nothing china is doing that has not already been done by the USA, Britain, France,Japan and several other developed countries to further their own interests. 

Thus you argue that what China and other countries do is normal, except the South China Sea.

 

Keeping global shipping lanes open in the Gulf or in the South China sea would also seem natural.  I'm pretty sure that China is keen to keep the Gulf region open as they are by far the  world's largest importer of oil.  You would then think they understand the strategic global importance of the South China Sea shipping lanes to others, and I'm sure they do. 

[smedly]

9 hours ago, oilinki said:

No, China is clearly not the real model of diplomacy and honoring lawful rights. 

 

It's just sad to see USA dropping to the same level.

 

There will be a day when USA can no longer define who is terrorist and who is freedom fighter. In this trajectory USA currently has, that day is not too far ahead. 

 

Breaking international commitments and bitching against one's long time allies is not a good way to go as soft power also matters. 

what ?

 

The USA UK and Europe has a long way to go before it gets anywhere even close to China on every front - tell me one thing China is doing better 

 

They have the biggest pollution footprint on the planet  - serious human rights issues

 

They have copied technology because we let them - foolish 

 

Now they think they are something and have become a bully - a very dangerous thing and they are getting into bed with Russia - if you have ever seen history repeating - that is it, you might want to blame Trump or the EU or someone else, Trump is standing up for his own country and saying enough is enough, China has overstepped for years - they are being called in

 

How dare you compare them to the west 

[smedly]

25 minutes ago, oilinki said:

When USA is becoming detached from the rest of the world, we'll better find new partners. 

where you looking ?

 

Russia China Iran ?

 

The moon ?

 

honestly - you are talking out your ***

[smedly]

15 minutes ago, oilinki said:

Furthermore. If you think USA's little poodle dog, The United Kingdom

never underestimate true grit and greatness - the poodle dog to the EU (Germany and France) days are over - for the 3rd time 

[smedly]

don't forget it

[smedly]

10 minutes ago, oilinki said:

UK used to be .a great world power. It was not since Suez. Soviet Union used to be a great world power. It was not since Chernobyl. 

 

Things change. Great powers come and go. 

here is a fact for you

 

The little UK is still the 5th biggest economy in the world and will grow bigger once we have left the Shackles of Brussels 

 

you are now trolling and baiting and very close to becoming the 3rd person I have ever put on ignore on TVF

 

so lets just leave it there 

 

regards

[Cryingdick]

On 6/4/2019 at 11:57 PM, smedly said:

China is a real model of diplomacy and honoring lawful rights

China quite simply needs Iranian oil.

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

here is a fact for you

 

The little UK is still the 5th biggest economy in the world and will grow bigger once we have left the Shackles of Brussels 

 

you are now trolling and baiting and very close to becoming the 3rd person I have ever put on ignore on TVF

 

so lets just leave it there 

 

regards

Depends on the criterion. If you base it on the value of currency, the UK is #5. If based on purchasing power, it drops to 9. China would actually be #1 and the EU #2 (without the UK it would drop to #3) The US #3.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)

Edited June 8, 2019 by bristolboy

[Cryingdick]

Maybe one day the USA and China can, as we are such great friends, sit around a campfire trading rare earths for oil while we sing cumbaya.

[Roadman]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

where you looking ?

 

Russia China Iran ?

 

The moon ?

 

honestly - you are talking out your ***

He isn’t actually. The days of the bully are disappearing. The likes of Putin has already learnt that on his own land borders. The other nations of the world no longer have to buy into the “with us or against us” carry on that the US have been guilty of for the last 20 odd years. World spending on military hardware is peaking and is not going to increase through to 2025. Where the huge increase in spending is occurring is in world wide infastructure. Whether we like it or not the leaders of that are the Chinese into Asia and the South Pacific. It will be into Africa and South America in the future. They see the advantage of world trade and with it the development that comes. About the only western nation that hasn’t seen that is Aussie who seems to think it still has to bend over still for US favour. There is developing plenty of scope for the developed western nations and the developing nations of the world to work with both the US and China without being beholden to either. Looking at where we are currently while China has many rights issues they are moving forward and slowly adapting into the modern world. Whereas the US with the idiot currently in charge is going backwards in the worlds eyes.