I'm John Bachelor, Iran, and the People's Republic of China, I welcome Jack Burnham, senior research analysts in the China program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies,

writing about an alliance, a treaty organization, a client, a business contract, a friendship.

None of those words actually fit. And I'm not comfortable declaring anything,

but it is true over these years. You're right, everybody's right to observe that China buys

a whole lot of Iranian oil. And once that oil to keep flowing and doesn't want to lose its money,

so it watches what we can

of the tragedy in Tehran. And, Jack, a very good evening to. Is there a word that describes

the conversation-relation communication attitude between Beijing and Tehran? Good evening.

Thank you for having me. I think that the relationship that China uses

is telling here, and that word is partner. China, for long stretches of its foreign policy,

has been in the business of forming partnerships over alliances. And I think in the case of

Iran, that word certainly fits well.

During a foreign minister meeting on January 5th, China was very clear that it doesn't see Iran as an ally or worth giving security guarantees to.

And very much she's it as a partner with a set of shared interests.

And I think in large part, their shared interests over time have been as a source of discounted oil

and as a market for precursors for Iran's ballistic missile program.

But as the regime continues to suffer and struggle under the weight of

this now near collective uprising, China has certainly backed away and shows very little interest

in coming to Tehran's rescue. Yes, you cite, you report during the January 12th press conference,

not the fifth, the first remarks, the second remarks.

The foreign ministry called for Tehran to suppress the protests, citing Beijing's hope that the government,

this is the quote, will overcome the current difficulties and uphold stability in the country.

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