On China's Mediation Into Iran Nuclear Chrisis

Iran nuclear crisis has become the hot issue of the international community, and has naturally attracted the world's attention as well. All around the Iranian nuclear issue has long begun a diplomatic game. Iranian ability and determination of developing nuclear technology has seriously confronted the standpoint of the United States and Europe to deter the Iranian attempt. Behind the Iranian nuclear crisis is the real struggle of the United States and Iran. China, as a third-party of mediation in resolving conflicts between the United States and Iraq to ease tensions in the nuclear crisis has played an important role."Mediation " is a positive means to promote negotiations between concerned parties to reach a peaceful settlement to international disputes .Since 2003, when the Iranian nuclear issue has evolved into the nuclear crisis, China, from top leaders to diplomats and government officials has been effectively mediating diplomatically in various occasions such as in exchanges with Iran, international organizations, foreign relations, and international activities, in a bid to seek a balance between great international powers.Reasons for China's strategic mediation into Iran nuclear crisis are extremely complicated. The first is due to the international background. With the end of the cold war, the overall international tension has been relieved, and the co-existence and common prosperity of world civilization is demanding that China shoulder the responsibility of a great power in international communities. In addition, the geopolitical importance of Iran as well as the dangers of nuclear proliferation and Iranian prominent position in world's energy reserves along with other factors requires China adopt an objective, fair and rational policy. Third, profound political, economic and cultural reasons also require a positive mediation from China. As a matter of fact, China' strategic interest demands in the triangular US-Iraq-China strategy and the international peaceful development strategy and practice proposed by China have contributed to China's diplomatic strategy. In a word, China's mediation into the Iranian nuclear crisis is not only of strategic interests of China to win a relatively stable and secure international diplomatic environment, but to enhance China's international status and international image as well.However, there are still lots of deficiencies existing in China's current diplomatic effort in resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis. The first lies in the inadequacy of concepts: China's diplomacy in this issue is more passive than aggressive ; China has underestimated the seriousness of the nuclear crisis; the role of mediation has been over-stressed and even exaggerated . Secondly, China has lacked sufficient ways and means to reach a good end, only focusing on mediating between Iran and the United States, merely playing a role in the UN Security Council, and obviously needing more effective coordination with other related countries and international organizations . A means of mediation itself is also single, without giving full play to the role of the regulator lever, or fully taking into account all parties' interest demands. Besides, China's advocate for peaceful negotiations opposing policies of forceful settlement serves only a means, but not ends, and there is still a long way to go to obtain a peaceful solution. Faced with all these diplomatic deficiencies and imperfections, our country is bound to attach far more importance to this issue and adopt tactful mediation strategies until it is settled peacefully in the end.