China and Iran announced a new economic and security partnership. That's not as alarming as it sound

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Tehran to sign a 25-year partnership deal between China and Iran. The deal, according to a leaked draft, outlines plans for economic, political and security cooperation between the two countries, which are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties.

Our research provides some important context to this announcement. Since news of the agreement surfaced in 2016, the prospect of a closer alliance between two U.S. rivals has inspired alarm in the United States. In March, President Biden told a reporter he had been “concerned for over a year” about the partnership.

But media reports tend to exaggerate the nature of the deal — and there are several misconceptions here. For China, “Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships,” or CSPs, are a standard foreign policy tool. By signing road maps for economic and security cooperation with countries across the Middle East, it is seeking to ensure that it does not stoke regional rivalries. China has similar cooperation deals in place with Iraq (signed in 2015), Saudi Arabia (signed in 2016) and the United Arab Emirates (signed in 2018).

Far from signaling a uniquely deep or ambitious alliance between China and Iran, the newly signed CSP reflects Iran’s long-frustrated efforts to get China to provide the same level of economic and security cooperation it offers other countries in the Middle East. In a study we conducted last year of China’s relations with Iran and five other Middle Eastern countries, we found that Iran lags behind its neighbors with regard to both the extent of Chinese economic commitments and the level of bilateral security cooperation. Rather than elevating the China-Iran relationship to new heights, the belated signing of this CSP is probably a clear signal that Iran wants to catch up to its neighbors.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-and-iran-announced-a-new-economic-and-security-partnership-thats-not-as-alarming-as-it-sounds/ar-BB1fcwzt?li=BBnb7Kz

[tirebiter]

1. China's also looking at South Africa

The northern hemisphere bailed on SA for it’s apartheid policy. Left a strategic Navy position unguarded. The Suez Canal made it irrelevant to shipping.
Or did it?
The recent blockage of the Suez made everybody’s hair catch on fire. Prices went up on oil and shortages of toilet paper were forecast among other things. China having the ability to control shipping would not be a good thing.
Seems like the US and NATO could take the lead on this.

[Turbineguy]

2. This is good

Iran needs to dial down on the number of enemies they think they have.