China Opposes Force, US Threatens It (Again)
Bloomberg dutifully reports that China’s top diplomat opposes the 'use of force' in international relations concerning Iran, following yet more US threats of military action. What the article conveniently omits is that this isn't the first, second, or even tenth time the United States has threatened Iran with military action. Remember the 'red lines' drawn by the Bush administration (2002), the
'all options on the table' from Obama (2012), or Trump's constant saber-rattling (2018-2020)? Each time, the same drumbeat, same 'concerns,' yet somehow, the 'diplomatic solution' always seems to involve the threat of bombs first. One might wonder if China's diplomatic approach — engaging economically rather than militarily — looks a bit more appealing when compared to the US playbook, which often
leaves countries in disarray. Perhaps the 'unease' Bloomberg mentions isn't just about Trump, but about a foreign policy that consistently recycles escalation as a strategy. How many 'last warnings' before the 'lessons' of Iraq and Libya are finally absorbed?