China tells U.S. it opposes a nuclear-armed Iran
But Pentagon officials, including Gates, make no headway in Beijing on sanctions or stopping military sales to Iran.


BEIJING -- China's military leadership on Monday assured U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that it opposes a nuclear-armed Iran.
But to the disappointment of Pentagon officials, on a visit here for talks on a range of military issues between the two countries, it appears the Chinese position on Iran's nuclear development, for now, will be no more than words.
Chinese military officials told their American counterparts that they believe "discussion" alone -- as opposed to economic sanctions -- will dissuade Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Gates will make the case for sanctions once more today, when he meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
"That is where you get your real answers," said a senior Defense official. "I continue to hope that on Iran we would get a stronger understanding of the importance of using all the tools of diplomacy, not just discussions, but sanctions and pressure. Just talking hasn't gotten us very far with Iran."
Chinese military leaders said nothing of U.S. requests that they stop selling military supplies to Iran.
Iran's nuclear program is one of the most urgent issues for Gates inChina. The Iranian issue was raised and the two sides "agreed that it is important to pursue efforts to persuade the Iranian government to change their behavior and their policies peacefully, through diplomatic means," Gates said. [1]

But why one of the most urgent issues?

During previous months, Washington passed a new round of unilateral sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear program and is pushing for a third set of U.N. Security Council sanctions as well.But Iran has dismissed the sanctions and refuses to agree to international demands that it suspend uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for a nuclear reactor or fissile material for a bomb.
On the other hand,with oil above $95 a barrel, there are limits to how much pressure the U.S. is willing to place on Iran's petroleum sector to influence a persistent nuclear standoff, analysts say.
The dilemma is pretty clear for the world's largest energy consuming nation that taking more aggressive action risks hurting America's economy, while enriching Iran's, but Washington hopes that associating these sanctioned oil-services companies with the Revolutionary Guards will persuade oil producers in other countries -- especially in China and Europe -- to cut off ties.

So...

On saturday,Robert Gates, U.S. defense secretary, left to make his first trip to china.He was schedueled to meet with a number of top chinese leaders, including president Hu Jintao , Cao Gangchuan, Chinese defense minister and Beijing , chinese military leadership.
He was so much interested to bring up the Iranian issue. "We think China could do more on Iran," said one of the officials, adding that the U.S. and China have a common responsibility to do what is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability.
The U.S. is looking for China to recognize that weapons it sells to Iran have shown up in other countries - such as Iraq. "There is clear evidence that the Chinese can't trust Iran to behave responsibly with any weapons that they sell them," said the official. "That, in our view, should lead China to the conclusion that they shouldn't sell any weapons to Iran."

Conclusion :

Both the United States and China are veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council.
But while Washington is seeking tougher U.N. sanctions on Iran, China -- which sources about 12 percent of its oil there -- favors talks to resolve the issue of its nuclear program.
China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing and Washington had common goals on Iran.
"We both believe Iran should not have nuclear weapons and we also both believe in safeguarding the Non-Proliferation Treaty," Liu Jianchao told a regular news conference.
But he added: "China believes we should emphasize dialogue and negotiation between relevant parties."

It seems that, in terms of Iran issuse, Americans haven't been successful to find a strong agreement in China.

References:
http://www.yahoonews.com/
http://www.theworldlink.com/
http://www.cnews.com/
http://www.elpasotimes.com/

[1] http://www.latimes.com/