China favors nuclear negotiations with Iran
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-24 19:01

ENERGY SECURITY THREAT

In Tokyo on Monday, Zoellick told reporters that Iran's nuclear program threatened China's energy security.

"It poses a threat not only in terms of security terms, but in my view, given the reliance of Japan, China and others on energy from the region, it poses some danger to energy security over time," he said.

About 12 percent of China's oil imports in 2005 came from Iran, and the two countries have signed several oil and gas deals.

Zoellick said in Tokyo that there was a "pretty good posture" for referring the issue to the Security Council given the composition of the IAEA board.

"If you look at the countries that are members of the IAEA board, I think we are in a pretty good posture about pursuing a referral," he said..

China believes that North Korea, which announced it was leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty in early 2003 after mounting international pressure over its nuclear program, shows the dangers of sanctions brinkmanship, said one scholar, who asked not to be identified.

Six-party talks between China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia have so far failed to end North Korea's nuclear program.

"China's experience with North Korea teaches it not to push," said the scholar. "And Iran is not North Korea. It has something crucial. North Korea is not even exporting shoes," he said, referring to Iran's oil exports.