How China benefits from US attacks on Iran
The Israel-Iran war rose after the United States bombing on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, China implicated Washington’s global reputation.Just hours after US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of the “Full and Total Conflict Wrme” between Israel and Iran, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katj said that he had directed the IDF to “reply with force” for the missile launch.The Israeli army said one or two missiles launched from Iran to the north side of Israel were intercepted. However, Iran’s armed forces refused to launch any missile towards Israel in recent hours, according to local media in Iran.Trump’s ceasefire plan on Iran’s major nuclear enrichment sites over the weekend followed the US attacks. In response, Tehran on Monday targeted an American military base at Qatar, a major regional center for American forces.China has not immediately commented on the latest developments.On Sunday, its Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun criticized the US attack on Iran, who criticizes the attack on Iran as a serious violation of the United Nations Charter, the founder United Nations Treaty that restrictions the use of force among countries with large-scale self-defense or approval of the United Nations Security Council.Guo stated that Beijing was “ready to work with the international community to restore peace and stability in the Middle East without providing specific details.Criticism before China’s Ambassador Fu Kong made statements, who said that American credibility was “damaged” as a country and as a partner in any international talks.
What is at stake for Beijing?
China’s call for stability in the Middle East comes amidst economic concerns, Iran can close the strainer of the hormuz, which will unstable oil prices worldwide.The narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of the Oman and the Arabian Sea is an important entrance to the oil transport.Washington has earlier urged China – Iran’s largest trading partner and primary oil export market – to prevent Tehran from blocking the major waterway.“Increase in oil and gas prices, of course, puts pressure [China’s] economy. This will make inflation worse, “said Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore.He said, “Beijing definitely has the reason to ensure that growth is not out of control. But is it able to fully control Iran, a different story is completely,” he said.China is a major economic supporter of Iran, especially stems from its nuclear program and human rights records amidst Western sanctions and increasing international separation of Tehran.Iran is an important partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a huge infrastructure scheme aimed at adding Chinese trade and impact to dozens of countries.“With a weak Iran, a one who is probably on the border on the border either on a full-traditional war or civil war as a result of American military intervention, is going to make Iran a very little effective partner for China’s outreach in the Middle East,” said Ven-T Sung, a non-resident fellow with the Atlantic Counsel’s global chaina hub.
China’s chance to get diplomatic capital
Sung told DW that China is likely to acquire more diplomatic goodwill in view of the US military attacks at Iran’s nuclear sites.He said, “As long as the ability of future military attacks ahead of America is not far from the table, diplomatic effects will be the same,” he said.China has long painted the US as a unstable force, while designing itself as a responsible lawyer for peace and stability.,[China] Being a possible threat, we will have more ability to talk about being a disruptive actor of America. They have been active in advancing this story in particular in the global south, “Chong said.In 2023, China canceled a historic agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations after a seven -year separate relationship – one step Beijing portrayed as a major diplomatic success.But in the current crisis, Tehran’s Beijing’s support remains mostly rhetoric, there is no indication that it plays a uniform mediation role.“Beijing is impressive, but like America cannot control Israel, cannot do Beijing [restrain Iran]”Chong said.
Beijing can benefit if Washington focuses on Asia
Meanwhile, an US that is dedicating less attention and resources to the Indo-Pacific sector may potentially relieve international pressure on China on its growing military presence in Asia.Earlier this month, an American aircraft carrier was originally scheduled to reach a port in Vietnam, extended towards the Middle East due to “emerging operating requirement”, “said the US embassy in Hanoi.“The journey to that port was about to show American commitment to security and stability in Asia. Now, it goes away, “Chong said.“If we are going to have a long drain on the Middle East side, the seedling may be reorganized [its strategy]”Chong said, referring to China’s approach to Taiwan, a self-conscious island claiming. Beijing has not rejected the possibility of using force to achieve” reunion “.Chong said that the US is deeply entangled in the Middle East, its regional colleagues, including Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Australia, “will have to do themselves more and work hard with each other,” Chong said.At this stage it is not clear whether the US strike on Iran is a separate phenomenon before starting Washington on Washington Asia, or if it indicates a wide axis towards prioritizing the Middle East.
