Beijing, a longtime friend of Tehran, turns to cautious diplomacy in Iran’s war with Israel

4 comments

1. Snippet from this news article:
   “
   When Israel attacked Iran nearly two weeks ago, the Chinese government, a longtime friend of Iran, jumped into action — at least, when it came to words. It condemned the attacks. Its leader, Xi Jinping, got on the phone with the Russian leader and urged a ceasefire. Its foreign minister spoke with his counterpart in Iran.

   But that’s where China stopped. The usual rhetoric was delivered. De-escalation and dialogue were trumpeted. Yet China offered no material support.

   Despite Beijing’s clout as a near-peer rival to the United States and its ambition to play a bigger role on the world stage, Beijing refrained from offering military support to Iran, let alone getting directly involved in the conflict. The decision underscored the limitations it faces in the Middle East.

   “Beijing lacks both the diplomatic capabilities and the risk appetite to quickly intervene in, and to think it can successfully navigate, this fast-moving and volatile situation,” said Jude Blanchette, director of the China Research Center at RAND.

   Given the tangled politics of the Middle East, where China holds substantial economic and energy stakes yet wields minimal military influence, Beijing “isn’t inclined to stick its neck out,” Blanchette added. Instead, the Chinese government opts to remain “a measured, risk‑averse

2. Because they are not a bunch of trigger happy lunatics looking to jump start WW3. Does the author want chinese SAMs taking shots at B2s. Frankly I am more shock that US intervened at all. From the Caspian Report to AP, does everyone have a death wish. 

   Edit: remove the last para, the harshness is uncalled for. But the sentiment stands, Israel and Iran’s squabbles should not hold the world at large ransom. 

3. China doesn’t want Iran to have nukes. It’s that simple.

4. Calling China a near-peer of America isn’t quite accurate. The American military has no peer, and the Chinese would be crushed in a direct conflict with America in the Middle East.

   That aside, China has historically not sent its military force and intervened far from its borders (perceived or otherwise) and therefore is not as imperialistic or hegemonic like the US is. You wouldn’t see China sending its soldiers into a third country to fight a war that isn’t its own border conflict unless it’s a UN sanctioned intervention.

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