So far Beijing hasn't undertaken anything resembling a crackdown on nuclear commerce. And Washington, worried about the state of the global economy and the health of U.S.-Chinese relations, hasn't pressed the issue by systematically sanctioning offenders.
China's recent energy moves, however, suggest that its traditional calculus in cooperating with Iran may be changing, and for good reason. Policy makers in Beijing have sensed for some time that their cozy ties to the Iranian regime have the potential to become a serious geopolitical liability.
China may grasp that the U.S. Congress, now exhibiting a growing appetite for strong economic pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, could soon sanction Tehran's enablers, Chinese firms chief among them. Chinese officials can't but notice that Iran's nuclear quest-and the supporting role of countries like China-is fast becoming a major campaign issue for President Obama's Republican challengers.
Perhaps weighing most heavily on Beijing's mind is Iran's recent bluster regarding the potential closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This is likely to have spooked Chinese officials concerned above all with ensuring the steady flow of oil necessary to sustain their country's economic dynamism.
Whatever the reason, China's curtailment of energy ties with Iran is a welcome development and a major step forward for Western efforts to tighten the economic noose around the Islamic Republic. At long last, the Chinese leadership appears to be waking up to the fact that cooperation with Iran carries real risks.
Washington and European capitals must seize the moment to amplify that message and to support Beijing's inevitable quest for different energy suppliers that can provide more stable alternatives to Iranian crude. After all, it is only by convincing China that its energy future does not lie with Iran's ayatollahs that the international community can hope to make Beijing's recent course correction permanent.
