Emily Fang

sanctions means those oil refineries in China will not be able to use the U.S.

dollar to do business or buy international insurance or dock at Western ports.

But China settles most of its purchases with Iran in Chinese renminbi.

And today's announcement that it will not recognize these American sanctions is a clear signal to ships carrying Iranian oil that the Chinese refiners would still be happy to receive their cargo.

Last week, China and Zambia signed a new economic development agreement.

And two days later, even though conference organizers say that they'd received a public endorsement from the Zambian government, things changed.

A Zambian government official told organizers that Chinese diplomats were objecting to the attendance of people from Taiwan, the island China one day wants to control.

And this week, Zambia canceled the event.

China's embassy in Washington, D.C.

did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier last month, Taiwan's president canceled travel to Africa after several countries he needed to fly through revoked Taiwan's use of their airspace, a decision Taiwan blamed on Chinese pressure.

Emily Fang, NPR News.

Last week, China and Zambia signed a new economic development agreement.

And two days later, even though conference organizers say that they'd received a public endorsement from the Zambian government, things changed.

A Zambian government official told organizers that Chinese diplomats were objecting to the attendance of people from Taiwan, the island China one day wants to control.

And this week, Zambia canceled the event.

China's embassy in Washington, D.C.

did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier last month, Taiwan's president canceled travel to Africa after several countries he needed to fly through revoked Taiwan's use of their airspace, a decision Taiwan blamed on Chinese pressure.

Emily Fang, NPR News.