Лев и дракон: новый этап китайско-иранского стратегического партнёрства

5. IMPLICATIONS OF THE SINO-IRANIAN PACT FOR THE U.S., CHINA AND IRAN

Implications for Washington. The Sino-Iranian pact implies that for the U.S., the ME and China, as two theaters of military operations, are in no way separated, and by increasing pressure on China and Iran, the U.S. encourages these two countries not only to create a common front, but also to create a new axis [79]. The deal may cast doubt on Trump's plans to isolate Iran, since the tandem of two powerful states, considering this agreement not only as a strategic cooperation, but also as a joint confrontation with the U.S., will oppose American-Israeli policy [17]. A new strategic partnership between Iran and China could jeopardize the possibility of a Republican victory in the U.S. presidential election in 2020, as the Trump administration's strategy of maximum pressure not only failed to contain Iran and change its behavior in the `region`, but also pushed Tehran into the arms of Beijing [2].

The military aspect of the treaty is of serious concern to the U.S., as is the unprecedented naval exercise last year in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman by the navies of Iran, Russia and China [2]. Great concern in the U.S. is the projection of Chinese military power into the Gulf `region`, since the treaty includes agreements on the exchange of intelligence and security data, and issues of joint military activities. Throughout the World Ocean, in particular from the South China Sea to the Suez Canal, the PRC is consistently placing its strongholds in the port of Hambantota (Sri Lanka), in the port of Gwadar (Pakistan), having built a chain of ports and refueling and supply points for the fast-growing Chinese fleet. And although these points are declared as civilian objects, their military purpose is undoubtedly, and there is already a Chinese military base to fight sea pirates on the shores of the Gulf of Aden in Djibouti (built in 2015 under the pretext of supporting its forces involved in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia) - just a few miles from the American military base Camp Lemonnier. Now this chain will continue with Chinese ports in FTZ on the Persian Gulf coast [17]. A military base in Djibouti creates a rear for Yemen in the southwest, allowing it to encircle Saudi Arabia in the south, supporting the "Yemeni rebels" [24].

Implications for Beijing. Beijing did not confirm that the deal was concluded in July 2020, but announced its support for traditional friendship and readiness to work with Iran to steadily advance practical cooperation [6]. Beijing's caution may indicate that the PRC does not want to escalate tensions with the U.S., grossly violating the tough U.S. rules of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, nor does it want to upset the balance in relations with Tehran's regional rival, Saudi Arabia [61].