標題: China intensifies criticism of sanctions on Iran [打印本頁] 作者: kimmi8k 時間: 2012-2-3 02:23 PM 標題: China intensifies criticism of sanctions on Iran
BEIJING - A top Chinese newspaper stepped up Beijing's opposition to a Western push for tighter sanctions against Iran, warning on Friday that tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme are hurting energy markets and could stifle the global economic recovery.5.39.217.76 F; s# c' Z: Y- Y+ N, G$ T, J( x! _
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China's criticism of tighter sanctions on Iran, designed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, appeared in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party. 0 a8 g7 @+ o' o5 y9 d; u* C5.39.217.76 + ?% c$ G d+ @& Xtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbIt comes a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Beijing to use its influence to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear weapons programme. . j( v8 [; c, N& z, x5.39.217.76 7 w4 ~; H* y) C# J"The global economy is in the midst of a difficult economic recovery and reducing the shocks of uncertainties is the common responsibility of countries all over the world," the People's Daily commentary said. 6 O6 N4 ]7 j- F2 [% m/ P0 Xtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb & I$ C; u) |; l: I2 v) E% G"In the near term, the sudden spike in tensions between the United States and Iran is now posing the greatest uncertainty. This factor is disrupting global energy markets and has cast a shadow over the global economic recovery." + ~, ]- a* p: e: i5.39.217.76 & W& n- f* F6 U5 C& l9 d+ V5.39.217.76The commentary appeared under the pen-name of "Zhong Sheng", which in Chinese sounds like "Voice of the Centre" or "Voice of China", suggesting it reflects high-level government views.5 ], S* Y6 e8 [8 u+ g# |; E& f8 H3 b
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China, the world's second-largest crude consumer, has long opposed unilateral sanctions that target Iran's energy sector and has tried to reduce tensions that could threaten its oil supply. + \& l/ y- A! ~: O4 A! n v0 t! w. q2 p+ _5.39.217.76The energy tensions are a particular worry for China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Only Saudi Arabia and Angola sell more crude to China than Iran. % p! a- m, L( E, x3 i1 F公仔箱論壇 / u' G4 K# S% t/ m) z4 {Escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme - which have led to Iranian threats to close the vital Straits of Hormuz Gulf oil export route - have pushed up Brent crude prices by about 9 per cent since mid-December.5.39.217.763 T* w/ q3 P. a
1 W. v- R" w z2 bOn Thursday, at a joint media briefing after what Germany's Merkel described as "long discussions" about Iran, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao appeared to reject the pressure to do more.5.39.217.766 |. u1 }8 D8 G- @% p/ u
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He said Beijing objected to Western nations politicizing the"normal commercial relationship" it has with the Islamic Republic (of Iran), echoing language that China has used before. 5 E" v" r( r* v; R, P- X, Z0 E9 ?: gTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。7 D. W) g% O' b6 v2 Z( j
Merkel, who is in China on a three-day visit, said on Thursday she hoped the U.N. Security Council could pass a unanimous resolution on the Iran issue.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb* a6 Y: Y7 u( Y6 X% }
# q% B1 m5 ~( {9 @9 ltvb now,tvbnow,bttvbThe United States imposed the harshest sanctions on Iran when President Barack Obama signed into law sanctions on transactions involving Iran's central bank on Dec. 31. 8 e- ^( p7 o- ~! ]+ C- z公仔箱論壇The European Union imposed a ban on the import, purchase or transport of Iranian oil in January. 1 l+ C: r( y3 Q4 \公仔箱論壇6 y# h- T d! w8 y; r/ Q3 t4 G
The commentary reiterated China's stance that dialogue should be used to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. - |: O( C; r/ C9 O/ Y公仔箱論壇+ _, P a7 f$ g' y" M
China has backed U.N. Security Council resolutions calling on Iran to halt uranium enrichment activities, while working to ensure its energy ties are not threatened. 5 ^- ^0 I* s+ j
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In January, Wen forthrightly warned Tehran against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons.
