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==Iran==

==Iran==

On March 27, 2021 China and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic 25-year partnership agreement on economic and security cooperation.<ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17229/china-iran-challenge</ref>  Iran will receive $400 billion dollars in Chinese investments over the next 25 years in key Iranian economic sectors, including energy, telecommunications, defense, infrastructure, banking, petrochemicals, railways and ports. There will be also an expansion of military assistance, training and intelligence-sharing. Nearly 100 projects are under consideration. In return, Iran will commit to providing regular and heavily discounted oil, gas and possibly other natural resources to China.

On March 27, 2021 China and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic 25-year partnership agreement on economic and security cooperation.<ref>https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17229/china-iran-challenge</ref>  Iran will receive $400 billion in Chinese investments over the next 25 years in key Iranian economic sectors, including energy, telecommunications, defense, infrastructure, banking, petrochemicals, railways and ports. There will be also an expansion of military assistance, training and intelligence-sharing. Nearly 100 projects are under consideration. In return, Iran will commit to providing regular and heavily discounted oil, gas and possibly other natural resources to China.

For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods.

For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods.

The agreement formalized the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Iran. Iran participates in China's so-called Digital Silk Road, the Silk Road of Innovation and the "Green" Silk Road. The Digital Silk Road represents the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) ambition, among other things, to shape the course of 5G technology in the world, whereas the Silk Road of Innovation is about technology transfers. The "Green" Silk Road is about transitioning to renewable energy sources. "China is the largest foreign investor in the... Middle East region", according to Dr. Mordechai Chaziz, author of China's Middle East Diplomacy: The Belt and Road Strategic Partnership.

The agreement formalized the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Iran. Iran participates in China's so-called Digital Silk Road, the Silk Road of Innovation and the "Green" Silk Road. The Digital Silk Road represents the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) ambition, among other things, to shape the course of 5G technology in the world, whereas the Silk Road of Innovation is about technology transfers. The "Green" Silk Road is about transitioning to renewable energy sources. "China is the largest foreign investor in the... Middle East region", according to Dr. Mordechai Chaziz, author of China's Middle East Diplomacy: The Belt and Road Strategic Partnership.

The signing of the agreement came at a time when China was already defying US sanctions on Iran in other ways -- such as by reportedly importing record volumes of crude oil. "Iran moved about 17.8 million tonnes (306,000 barrels per day) of crude into China during the past 14 months, with volumes reaching record levels in January and February" ''Reuters'' reported. In March, 2021 according to some estimates, China was taking in some 856,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude oil, a 129% surge compared to February.

The signing of the agreement came at a time when China was already defying US sanctions on Iran in other ways—such as by reportedly importing record volumes of crude oil. "Iran moved about 17.8 million tonnes (306,000 barrels per day) of crude into China during the past 14 months, with volumes reaching record levels in January and February" ''Reuters'' reported. In March, 2021 according to some estimates, China was taking in some 856,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude oil, a 129% surge compared to February.

As China is Iran's largest trading partner, the agreement, in addition to providing Iran with modern technology, would help its economy to grow. China, among other countries, helped Iran with its nuclear development several decades ago and has been regularly championing a return to the [[Iran nuclear deal]] or the JCPOA. For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods. The two countries, despite their marked ideological differences, share an authoritarian, anti-Western outlook, making each attractive to the other. According to a recent report by risk consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft: "China is pivoting towards more autocratic regimes that represent greater stability for its supply lines than democracies that are, or may become, hostile to Beijing".  China has even helped Iran crack down on dissidents by exporting its digital authoritarianism in the form of surveillance equipment.

As China is Iran's largest trading partner, the agreement, in addition to providing Iran with modern technology, would help its economy to grow. China, among other countries, helped Iran with its nuclear development several decades ago and has been regularly championing a return to the [[Iran nuclear deal]] or the JCPOA. For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods. The two countries, despite their marked ideological differences, share an authoritarian, anti-Western outlook, making each attractive to the other. According to a recent report by risk consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft: "China is pivoting towards more autocratic regimes that represent greater stability for its supply lines than democracies that are, or may become, hostile to Beijing".  China has even helped Iran crack down on dissidents by exporting its digital authoritarianism in the form of surveillance equipment.

The Burma port is intended to ship [[Persian Gulf]] oil to China without rounding the cape at [[Singapore]], with the sea lanes defended by the Chinese naval base at Sri Lanka; the Vanuatu wharf is to counter the U.S. naval presence at [[Guam]] which defends shipping lanes of Persian Gulf oil through the [[South China Sea]] to [[Taiwan]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]], key U.S. [[allies]] and trading partners.

The Burma port is intended to ship [[Persian Gulf]] oil to China without rounding the cape at [[Singapore]], with the sea lanes defended by the Chinese naval base at Sri Lanka; the Vanuatu wharf is to counter the U.S. naval presence at [[Guam]] which defends shipping lanes of Persian Gulf oil through the [[South China Sea]] to [[Taiwan]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]], key U.S. [[allies]] and trading partners.

Zimbabwe is also a key supplier of [[lithium]], used to power electric cars and iphones. [[Communist China]] is seeking to dominate the world supply by making countries indebted to it through the Belt and Road inititiative.<ref>https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/china-rushes-to-dominate-global-supply-of-lithium/</ref> [[Australia]], Argentina, and [[Namibia]] are also big suppliers.<ref>https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/battery-metals-investing/lithium-investing/lithium-producing-countries/</ref>

Zimbabwe is also a key supplier of [[lithium]], used to power electric cars and iPhones. [[Communist China]] is seeking to dominate the world supply by making countries indebted to it through the Belt and Road inititiative.<ref>https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/china-rushes-to-dominate-global-supply-of-lithium/</ref> [[Australia]], Argentina, and [[Namibia]] are also big suppliers.<ref>https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/battery-metals-investing/lithium-investing/lithium-producing-countries/</ref>

One key element in Communist China's Belt and Road ambitions is building a modern ocean-going navy; prior to 2017 Communist China's military budget was largely funded by its [[trade surplus]] with the United States. American consumers were paying to build a navy to rival its own through the purchase of cheap Chinese manufactured goods and consumer products. American taxpayers then had to meet the challenge of rival military spending by modernization and upgrades of its own defense budget.

One key element in Communist China's Belt and Road ambitions is building a modern ocean-going navy; prior to 2017 Communist China's military budget was largely funded by its [[trade surplus]] with the United States. American consumers were paying to build a navy to rival its own through the purchase of cheap Chinese manufactured goods and consumer products. American taxpayers then had to meet the challenge of rival military spending by modernization and upgrades of its own defense budget.