00:00How many deals has China done this year?
00:03So it's, well, in general, how many deals, how many countries has it signed up with?
00:06And the answer is 150 plus countries have had negotiations or talks.
00:10As we said, we covered this with the UK a couple of weeks ago.
00:13Big deals have been done with China.
00:14And they have firmly cemented themselves into the psyche of many countries in the world.
00:19The US, meanwhile, have done those handshake deals with dozens, not 150, nor anywhere close as well.
00:26So China is certainly in a stronger position than anything else right now.
00:32And I think that's an important place for them to be in.
00:34But when we hear President Trump going to Xi Jinping and saying, listen, do not, do not give Iran any
00:41weapons whatsoever,
00:42them's fighting words.
00:43Let's be honest about it.
00:45And this is what Donald Trump likes to do in the whole administration.
00:47I don't entirely know how China would react to that.
00:50But if you're taking it based upon historically, look at the broader US strategy.
00:54This is trying to contain the influence, at least from China's point of view.
00:58They're not going to see this as a one-off warning.
01:01And then they're going to handle it in the best possible way diplomatically that China can.
01:05So publicly, I don't think they're going to respond in a confrontational way to this.
01:08They're going to stick to using the usual language, which they do, using neutrality and saying a hard line on
01:14de-escalation.
01:15Again, very Chinese of them.
01:16I think behind the scenes, though, there'll be a lot of calculations that are going on right now.
01:19Because China, it's got these strategic and also the economic ties with Iran, like you mentioned just a few minutes
01:24ago, Lian.
01:25But particularly around energy and regional positioning, Iran is vitally important to China right now.
01:32So they're not going to abandon that relationship just because the US has threatened some tariffs on there as well.
01:37But at the same time, they're going to be very conscious of any risk of any sanctions or tariffs from
01:41the US.
01:42It feels like they just got over that hump of the bridge.
01:44And now it's on the horizon again.
01:45So in this current global trade climate, I don't think they're going to risk that as well.
01:49So you're likely going to see this, which is exactly what they would always do, avoid any military support or
01:56at least outwardly avoid it.
01:58That could trigger that US retaliation in terms of the tariffs.
02:01And then they'll continue that political, economic, that indirect backing that we've seen of Iran.
02:05But it will be quiet because that is a very careful tightrope to try and thread.
02:09I think they're going to have to very carefully approach that.
02:11But that is classic Chinese diplomacy, isn't it?
02:13I mean, don't escalate publicly, don't concede privately, and then make sure you protect the long-term interests,
02:19which the US and Iran are both in that wheelhouse.
02:22So I guess it won't be – Beijing won't see this as pressure to comply.
02:27It'll be something that they need to manage, something that they need to navigate.
02:30And I think that's what they'll do very well if, based upon history, is anything to go by.
02:33They will do that and manage that very, very amicably.
02:37I think that's what I'm calling.
02:37So, you know, great to see us on Sunday.
02:38Yeah, well, give me главное today!
02:38Bye!
02:38Bye!
02:38Bye!
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