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Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7021195.ece
China Could Veto Sanctions Against Iran - But History Suggests It Won't
(Times-UK) Catherine Philp - Now that Russia is exhibiting mounting disenchantment with Iran, attention will be focused even more closely on China - the country which is the most opposed to sanctions. Yet for all its recent baring of teeth in Washington's direction, China does not court international confrontation. Above all, China does not like to feel exposed: since it joined the Security Council in 1971, it has used its veto only twice. In the same period, the U.S. has done so 76 times. In all that time, China has never voted against economic sanctions, although it has frequently abstained. History suggests China will hesitate to use its veto. If it abstains, then sanctions could pass. The question then is: will they work?