U.S. warns China on energy ties to Iran

[Eugene]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-09-07T004928Z_01_ROB702881_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-CHINA-USA-DC.XML

U.S. warns China on energy ties to Iran
Tue Sep 6, 2005 8:49 PM ET

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China will be increasingly in conflict with
the United States if it continues to pursue energy deals with
countries like Iran and is unlikely to gain the energy security it
seeks, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said he was not sure how
much of Beijing's energy drive was propelled by new Chinese oil
companies or by a government "strategic plan."

But he told a group of reporters it was unlikely that Beijing could
guarantee its own energy security through contracts with countries
which Washington and other states consider troublesome "because you
can't lock up energy resources" in a global marketplace.

Instead, the Bush administration was encouraging China to adopt a
broader definition of energy that included cooperative efforts with
Washington and others to develop energy sources beyond oil and gas,
expanding sources of oil and gas and improving energy efficiency, he
said.

more...

[bemildred]

1. China to Zoellick: Bugger off mate. nt

[mitchtv]

2. China shivers with fear

wait til she refuses to buy anymore debt from US

[democracy eh]

3. wait til she calls the US bluff

and says "You want us to stop pegging the Chinese currency to the US dollar? OK, sure, we'll let our currency float so that an American dollar is more competitive."

then China goes on one hell of an acquisition spree as a Chine dollar is a hell of a lot more competitive.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Do as I say, not as I do.

Did China invade Iran because they threatened them with WMD in 45 minutes?

[dansolo]

5. I thought they were in favor of free markets

Apparently they don't think that the Iranians should be entitled to sell their oil to whoever they want.

[despairing optimist]

6. And China warns US: We'll dump those Treasury bills and sink the dollar

lower than Louisiana wetlands. Right now China can take an economic hit a lot more than the US can. The energy shortage hasn't even begun in earnest, and the markets haven't woken up either. It's hardly the time to threaten any country, especially after Iraq and Katrina.

That's why the tide has turned against the Bushistas. They're a definite liability to the elites who formerly backed them.

[hadrons]

7. U.S. warns China on energy ties to Iran

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China will be increasingly in conflict with the United States if it continues to pursue energy deals with countries like Iran and is unlikely to gain the energy security it seeks, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said he was not sure how much of Beijing's energy drive was propelled by new Chinese oil companies or by a government "strategic plan."

But he told a group of reporters it was unlikely that Beijing could guarantee its own energy security through contracts with countries which Washington and other states consider troublesome "because you can't lock up energy resources" in a global marketplace.

Instead, the Bush administration was encouraging China to adopt a broader definition of energy that included cooperative efforts with Washington and others to develop energy sources beyond oil and gas, expanding sources of oil and gas and improving energy efficiency, he said.

....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050907/pl_nm/china_usa_dc

[jody]

8. China might say, "OK, we'll take our money and go home". n/t

[punpirate]

9. These idiots love to talk free markets...

... as long as they're only free for the US.

What amazes me is that they haven't figured out how transparent this sort of talk is. Everything they expect China to do is meant to allow the US to not do the same.

We regularly threaten other countries to toe our line, and then say, "but, that advice doesn't apply to us." Venezuela, because of US threats, is now diversifying its oil contracts. That's sure to cause a contraction of US supply, eventually, for which the US will then increase its threats. If there's a vicious circle here, the US is creating it.

This could also be the roll-out of the new product--on all fronts--sending a message to Iran via trade complaints about China.

[SlowDownFast]

10. Whaaaaahhhh! That's our oil!

I me mine! I me mine!

(sorry, George......Harrison, that is)

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Sounds like an indirect threat, to me

"Don't buy your oil from countries who are on our list to invade".

[Tempest]

12. The real fear

The real fear the administration feels is that China will veto any attempts by the U.S. to secure U.N. Security Council action against Iran.

Bush won't be able to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities as long as China is in the picture.

[JNelson6563]

13. China to US: We'd like to cash in these Treasury

Notes. Small bills if you please....

Note flushing and gurgling sounds in American economy after request is met.

Julie