Dear Mr. President.
As you prepare for your meetings next week with President Hu Jintao, I write to urge that you place a top priority on securing greater cooperation from the Chinese government in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons program. As always, there are many important issues that merit inclusion on the agenda of a U.S.-China heads of state meeting. However, at this time none is more critical than the threat that Iran poses to U.S. national security and the security of our allies in the Middle East.
Together with our allies, your Administration achieved a significant diplomatic breakthrough in winning China’s and Russia’s acceptance of expanded multilateral sanctions under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929. Yet, there is ample evidence that Chinese entities continue to invest in Iran’s energy sector and to provide the Iranian regime with revenue and resources. This weakens the full impact of sanctions and facilitates the regime’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Without China’s full participation in the multilateral sanctions against Iran’s nuclear weapons program, it will be difficult to peacefully change Iran’s behavior and avoid a catastrophe in the Middle East. Therefore, I urge you to focus your discussions with President Hu on this ultimate threat, above all other issues, in the upcoming summit.
Sincerely,
HOWARD L. BERMAN
Ranking Member
Permalink: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2011/1/rep-berman-sends-letter-urging-president-obama-focus-discussions-president-hu.
