China Can’t Stop the Iran War. But It Can Shape the Endgame
Are we close to an endgame on Iran?
Photographer: Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images
China has every reason to want the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran to end. The question is whether it’s prepared to do more than issue yet another peace plan heavy on rhetoric and light on results.
There’s no doubt the war is reinforcing China’s favored narrative: that the US under President Donald Trump is a destabilizing force, while Beijing is a reliable pillar of the international order. It could also give President Xi Jinping a chance to showcase his country’s clout, notwithstanding his reluctance to get drawn into conflicts in the Middle East. If it was to step in, Beijing would likely want to help shape a resolution, while avoiding the work that comes with enforcement. Any action along those lines would mark a meaningful expansion of its diplomatic influence.