China and Iran

Lawrence asks in a previous comment about treaty relations between Iran and China. (Just a note - a long time ago I blogged significantly about the fact that I believe the real enemy of the neoconservatives is in fact China. My premise was that much of what we have done in the Middle East was merely an attempt to preempt and checkmate China. At the time I caught a lot of flak for that viewpoint.)

Here is what I found today in an attempt to answer Lawrence's question:

Iran's relationship with China is currently growing exponentially, due to the communist's state insatiable energy needs (According to The Washington Post, China's energy needs climbed nearly 40% in the first few months of 2004). Iran is therefore meeting China's energy needs in return for access to China's large scale and low-cost manufacturing industry, as well as the obligatory support for nuclear co-operation.

[.....]

In July 2004, Iranian parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel was very complimentary of the Sino-Iranian relationship. In particular he highlighted China's support for the Iranian nuclear programs. This aside, Iran also has unfettered access to the improving technology being developed and utilised by the PLA. According to the IAEA, China has probably provided nuclear technology to Iran...(from Pars Times)

Here is an interesting piece on past and present arms trade arrangements between Iran and China.

Of course Iran is also an "observer" member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Iran and China certainly do not have any sort of mutual defense treaty in place (perhaps one of those pre-WWI type secret treaties but that is unlikely). What they do have is a common interest.

Iran views itself as the premier regional power in the Middle East; it is the Persian Gulf on most maps don't you know. China has a vested interest in buffering US hegemony.

Perhaps the confusion over an actual military alliance stems from articles like this- (Washington Post)

TEHRAN -- A major new alliance is emerging between Iran and China that threatens to undermine U.S. ability to pressure Tehran on its nuclear program, support for extremist groups and refusal to back Arab-Israeli peace efforts.