The authoritarian Russian President Putin is in the midst of a state visit to call on the Tyrants of Beijing. Both Putin and Hu (the Chinese President), have similar goals when it comes to geo-politics. Both view themselves as re-emergent powers, both are authoritarian regimes (though Russia is nominally a democracy), both are rigidly nationalistic (a diversionary strategy encouraged by the government to distract from the apparent lack of freedom), and both view themselves as obstacles to western hegemony. As such, both nations, as a matter of course, pursue a foreign policy designed primarily to contrast with that of the west, particularly the United States.

Nowhere is this divergent foreign policy more apparent than in their dealing with the rogue state of Iran. Iran, as is well documented, is hurriedly pursuing the development of an indigenous nuclear weapons program. Much of Iran’s initial progress in this regard has come thanks to reckless technology transfers from nations like Russia and China.

China and Russia’s position vis-à-vis Iran is motivated by two inescapable realities. In the first place, both nations are greatly interested in their short-term economic advancement. China is desperate to fuel its growing economic engine by acquiring access to oil and natural gas. Russia is equally desperate to spur economic growth through lucrative trade deals with the Mullahs of Tehran. Both nations also see no harm in Iran becoming a nuclear power (contrary to their public statements) because they will serve as yet another check on the West. Much as the European powers refused to tackle the problem of 18th century Barbary pirates, because they attacked the shipping of their rivals.

The Sino-Russian coalition, therefore, have opposed any move to punish or sanction Iran for their nuclear program, even though they fully recognize the fact that Iran’s nuclear program has a military component. Russia as also admitted that Iran’s futile efforts at “negotiation” are nothing more than stalling tactics to advance their program. Indeed, Iran’s former chief negotiator admitted as much during a conference of mullahs in Tehran earlier this year. Given these realities it should come as no surprise that the Authoritarian Putin and Hu have come out in opposition to UN sanctions, currently being discussed among Security Council members. "China and Russia exchanged views and both sides agreed the Iran nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomatic means," said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign ministry. This statement can be translated to read: “We both support Iran’s efforts to develop a nuclear weapons program and will do nothing that interferes with our lucrative financial and economic arrangements with Tehran.”
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060323/2006-03-23T092025Z_01_PEK127666_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-NUCLEAR-IRAN-CHINA-DC.html