China continues buying Iranian LPG despite U.S. sanctions

China getting gas from Iran is part of the global energy balance. Japan gets a large portion of its Gas from Australia, which China would probably rather, but the Australian Gas supply is controlled almost exclusively by US companies...Gorgon etc..

If the Chinese got their gas from Russia, which would make economic sense, they would also be beholden to Russia..

The US would also prefer to have China at the mercy of the Gulf Straits as the US has full control over the area and could block any shipping trying to move through to China.
This would be a huge bargaining chip for the US in any trade negotiations I would expect.

a reply to: Waterglass

These are American sanctions, not UN sanctions. China doesnt have to comply with them. There is nothing in law that says that China cant trade with Iran.

In fact,US sanctions are probably making Iranian oil and gas cheaper, so its a bargain for China.

originally posted by: AaarghZombies
In fact,US sanctions are probably making Iranian oil and gas cheaper, so its a bargain for China.

World gas and oil prices are at parity, Iranian gas and Russian gas are the same price on the world market due to futures and other pricing dynamics. If Iran somehow disengaged from the world market and tried to undercut other producers those producers would just lower their prices as well.

a reply to: AaarghZombies

Agree