ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the evolution of Beijing's approach. It argues that China adopted a limited support strategy during the 1980s and 1990s. Beijing has supported some of Washington's efforts, voting in favor of four rounds of UN sanctions against Iran. Under President Dwight Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace program, the U. S. and Iran signed a civilian nuclear cooperative agreement in 1957. Chinese ballistic missile assistance began in 1987–1988, with China helping Iran develop the Oghab, Nazeat, and possibly the NP-110 artillery rockets. Problems started to emerge in the Sino-Iranian nuclear cooperation by 1995. Tehran appreciated the support, and like the nuclear and missile transfers, arms cooperation contributed to building trust with the Iranian regime and strengthening China's influence. The U. S. was emerging as the world's sole superpower, and China remained largely dependent on U. S. goodwill for its economic opening to succeed, so maintaining relative comity with the U. S. became of crucial value to reform-minded Chinese leaders.
