China and Iran

BEIJING, March 2 (UPI) -- China is rebuffing U.S. efforts to strengthen U.N. sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear program.

With the United States sending a diplomatic team to Beijing to soothe problems that have cropped up in the increasingly complex Chinese-U.S. relationship, Chinese officials said they wanted diplomacy to be given more time to work to convince Tehran to work better with the international community regarding its nuclear aspirations.

Iran has increased its efforts in processing uranium, but Tehran insists its overall program has peaceful ends. Some Western countries believe the true goal is for Iran to become a nuclear weapons power. Because of that, the United States is among nations calling for additional sanctions on Iran.

For that to happen, the Americans need Chinese support. But China is far-from happy with the United States and that could be why Tuesday, just as two high-profile U.S. officials reached Beijing, China's foreign ministry said diplomacy still had a place in dealing with Iran.

China is displeased with U.S. offers of $6.4 billion in arms to Taiwan. There was also U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, U.S. company Google's growing recalcitrance in putting up with Chinese censorship and suggestions that Beijing allow its currency to be more fluid.

And Beijing is leaving little question as to whom it thinks is responsible for any problems between China and the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday, "We hope the U.S. side takes seriously the Chinese position and ... works with the Chinese side to push the China-U.S. relationship back to the track of sound and healthy development."