© The Associated Press/Ng Han GuanIsraeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman holds up a paper with the Chinese proverb "We will not attack unless we are attacked, if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack.
China, which has close energy and trade ties with Iran, has urged a negotiated solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions and long opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.
"For us, it's crucial to explain our position to our Chinese partners," Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told reporters on a visit to Beijing. "It's crucial to clarify our position to China in the hope they understand our concerns, our problems," he said, adding that Israel would "continue the dialogue" with China.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned Iran in January against any effort to acquire nuclear weapons but apart from that, China has shied away from speaking out strongly against Iran.
That position on Iran underscores the tricky path China is trying to steer between pressure from the United States and its allies and, on the other hand, expectations from Iran, which looks to China as a sympathetic power and a big oil customer.
But an increasingly tough-talking Israel is threatening to take military action, with or without U.S. support, if Iran is deemed to be continuing to defy pressure to curb its nuclear projects.
Speculation is growing that Israel could launch a strike against Iranian nuclear installations, which Israel sees as a threat to its existence.
"We prefer that the international community will resolve the Iranian issue through talks, P5 1, through some negotiations, sanctions etcetera," Lieberman said.
"But if not, I think it's our right to protect ourselves, to defend ourselves," he added. "As I mentioned, we keep all options on the table."
The P5 1 group, made up of the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, accepted an offer last week from Iran for new talks on its nuclear energy program.
Lieberman said Israel had not seen "readiness from the Iranian side to give up their nuclear ambitions or to stop their enrichment."
Source: Reuters
And Israel's importance to China?.... um well, not much at all. I wonder how they cope with being ignored?
And probably a little more 'difficult' to influence, manipulate and position agents in that country as well. Got any Asian Jews who are ready and willing to do our bidding? Hmmm, probably not so much, as China tends to frown on religion.
And, as far as I'm aware, their corruption and bribery dance card if already full as it is such a ubiquitous part of their culture.
Israel's answer: Be polite to the Chinese Dragon, or get sent home like a flambed mosquito.