Chinese admiral says mainland wants closer defence cooperation with Iran

China wants to deepen military ties with Iran, a senior Chinese admiral was quoted as saying on Thursday after a meeting with Iran’s defence minister in Tehran.

Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army, told Iran’s Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan that China paid great attention to developing relations with Iran, China’s Defence Ministry said.

Obama Blocks Navy from Sailing Near Disputed Chinese islands

The CCP is being given what it wants: Recognition of its claim to sovereignty of the South China Sea.

 

Failure to assert passage rights in South China Sea bolsters Beijing’s illegal maritime claims

The Obama administration has restricted the U.S. Pacific Command from sending ships and aircraft within 12 miles of disputed Chinese-built islands in the South China Sea, bolstering Beijing’s illegal claims over the vital seaway, Pentagon leaders revealed to Congress on Thursday.

“The administration has continued to restrict our Navy ships from operating within 12 nautical miles of China’s reclaimed islands,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) said in opening remarks criticizing the failure to guarantee safe passage for international commercial ships in Asia.

“This is a dangerous mistake that grants de facto recognition of China’s man-made sovereignty claims,” he said.