[hourislate]

> China is only a small player in the Greek debt drama, but it seems to me that they are one of the few friends that Greece has that is both willing and able to play a helpful role.

Is/was their role charitable because they are nice guys? or is there something there for them also? I would imagine that they had a long view and would have really liked to get control of Greece as a gateway to Europe by taking advantage of the Greek financial crisis. I don't believe China has any friends, just business partners they cooperate with to benefit them in the end.

[zekevermillion]

Yes, I'm sure you are correct. Saying a country is a "friend" is a poor metaphor, in the world of realpolitik. But Varoufakis certainly appeared to view China as a helpful partner, whatever state interests were advanced on the Chinese side. Of course even "charity" in the form of direct aid is never without strings of dependency, other geopolitical aspects.