That anyone would be surprised that the Chinese would operate in anyones interests other than their own is astonishing.  The Russian experience with China should've given the US some pause when the administration decided that massive dual-use technology transfers (10's of thousands of them) would somehow survive whatever agreements we put into place.

 

The Russians (for decades) were selling/licensing military hardware to the Chinese, who routinely copied or re-egineered whatever they bought, and sold it as their own.

 

Instead, we stupidly gave away many thousands of dual-use designs, manufacturing techniques, 8M+ US jobs (and therefore the tax revenues), and much of the strategic manufacturing base, to a nation that we KNEW routinely violated agreements.  According to multiple years of US National Intelligence Estimates, we gave away more dual-use technologies (plus all the above) during 2002-2008, than the USSR got in 60 years of cold war:  they classified it as a bona-fide national security disaster.

 

Hence - the US is now fueling both China's massive military build-up, and their ever-increasing diplomatic belligerence. 

 

And, as history also has shown - the Chinese will sell to anyone with cash, regardless.  The US stupidly believed it would somehow be different for us, as if we were going to get the Chinese to stop adhering to thousands of years of tradition. 

Chris, do not dismiss corruption in China which is staggering as well as geo-political considerations.

 

Geopolitically it was the Chinese who cooperated with the Pakistani's nuclear program in order to give their rival India something to worry about. In this instance Iran can serve as cooperative-guarantor of China's access to oil as well as a balance to USA as well as Russian influence in the region.

 

You never know if there was just one reasons. 

Facts wrong.

 

Pakistan got its help from EUROPE.

 

Ever been to China?

 

Facts wrong on THAT, too.