Do my usual evening google trawl, just came across this Xinhua press agency release from June
Iran F-14 fighter jets operating despite U.S. sanctions: commander - People's Daily Online
It briefly discusses the Iranians ability to continue flying the F-14, despite sanctions.
Its written very much as a "public interest" story, but Chinese news agencies, especially Xinhua NEVER do "public interest". Theres always some government directed agenda behind it.
Question is - whats the agenda here? Is it some kind of hidden warning? Or are the Chinese pointing out - in an underhand way - that they are the brains / resource behind the ongoing availability of the Iranian F-14 fleet?
Its even more interesting in that other Chinese agencies repeated the story the same day - citing Xinhua. Of course Xinhua credits an Iranian agency with the story, so establishing an "arms-length" situation to try deflect suggestion that the story is Chinese-orchestrated.
Any political China-watchers on here? Comments?