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Apr 10, 2015

Manning on the Iran-China Energy Talks

By Robert Manning

Anadolu Agency’s Energy News Terminal quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Robert Manning on Iran’s talks with China for oil and natural gas trade and energy investments:

China
Iran

Article

Mar 6, 2014

Empty Tough Talk from US Hawks

By Rajan Menon

You would think it’s self-evident that Ukraine’s current crisis and the controversies sparked before its eruption by Iran’s nuclear program, China’s muscle-flexing against Japan and the Philippines over disputed tiny islands, and Syria’s continuing carnage are distinct—that they have little, if anything, in common. Well, you’d be wrong, at least in the eyes of the […]

China
East Asia
President Barack Obama discussing Ukraine with national security advisors, Feb. 28, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 3, 2014

President Obama’s Foreign Policy is Based on Fantasy

By Editorial Board of the Washington Post

For five years, President Obama has led a foreign policy based more on how he thinks the world should operate than on reality.

China
Russia
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

NATOSource

Jan 29, 2014

Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Cyber Threats to the US

By Office of the Director of National Intelligence

The following excerpt is from the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, delivered by Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, January 29, 2014.

China
Cybersecurity
Syria's 1st batch of chemical weapons materials now onboard the Ark Futura

NATOSource

Jan 8, 2014

First Chemical Weapons Removed From Syria to Danish Ship

By BBC and AP

From BBC:  The first consignment of Syrian chemical weapons materials has left the country on a Danish ship.

China
Northern Europe
Chinese Frigate

NATOSource

Dec 20, 2013

Chinese Military Ship Will Help Guard Destruction of Syria’s Chemical Weapons

By New York Times, Reuters, & South China Morning Post

From Jane Perlez, New York Times:  The same day that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel of the United States blasted the actions of a Chinese ship in the South China Sea as “irresponsible,” China announced that it would deploy a military ship to work with an American vessel involved in the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

China
Italy
G 20 Meeting in St. Petersburg

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Dec 10, 2013

Chinese Hackers Spied on Europeans Before G20 Meeting: Researcher

By Reuters and New York Times

From Jim Finkle, Reuters:  Chinese hackers eavesdropped on the computers of five European foreign ministries before last September’s G20 Summit, which was dominated by the Syrian crisis, according to research by computer security firm FireEye Inc.

China
Cybersecurity
Obama administraion authorized hundreds of offensive cyber operations

NATOSource

Aug 31, 2013

US Spy Agencies Mounted 231 Offensive Cyber-Operations in 2011, Documents Show

By Barton Gellman and Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post

U.S. intelligence services carried out 231 offensive cyber-operations in 2011

China
Cybersecurity

NATOSource

Aug 13, 2013

Is Sudan Providing Chinese Missiles to Syrian Rebels?

By C.J. Chivers and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

Syrian rebels, frustrated by the West’s reluctance to provide arms, have found a supplier in an unlikely source: Sudan, a country that has been under international arms embargoes and maintains close ties with a stalwart backer of the Syrian government, Iran.

China
Sudan

Event Recap

Nov 10, 2011

Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions

By Adrienne Chuck

On November 10, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force held a public briefing on Iran trade relations. This briefing marks the release of the Council’s fifth issue brief, entitled “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions,” by senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

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Germany