China positions itself as mediator after US and Israel strikes on Iran | Ukraine news
Beijing is leveraging diplomacy and energy reserves to position itself as a mediator in the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
After nearly four months since the United States and Israel’s strikes on Iran, China has positioned itself as a global mediator of peace and stability amid economic fluctuations in the region.
Xi Jinping hosted leaders from several countries during the war and earned praise from Donald Trump for maintaining neutrality throughout the conflict.
Some observers in Beijing argue whether the war revealed the limits of American military might and whether the so-called “Suez Moment” for Trump became a real watershed.
During this time, the world’s second-largest economy demonstrated resilience in the face of a historic energy crisis, partly thanks to large strategic oil reserves and the active development of “green” technologies and electric vehicles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China welcomed the announcement of the agreement between the United States and Iran and said that Beijing is ready to take an active role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.
When pressed on the matter, official spokesperson Lin Jiang did not confirm a specific role for China, but noted the country’s tireless efforts to end the war, including Xi Jinping’s four-point peace proposal in April.
This praise did not stop with Beijing – public signals also came from its side.
I want to thank China, President Xi… he remained neutral, completely neutral, and I appreciate that
– Donald Trump
He said that such an attitude from China influenced the outcome of the Iran negotiations.
They didn’t do that. Mr. Xi helped me. He tried to help, and in my view, he probably helped to resolve this.
– Donald Trump
The Role of China as a Mediator and Its Influence on Global Politics
Beijing has followed a cautious diplomatic line during the war: condemns U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, while continuing to purchase Iranian oil, in violation of U.S. sanctions, but keeps channels with all sides.
Several world leaders visited China during the course of the conflict – notably Donald Trump last month, Abbas Araghchi earlier, and leaders of Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a mediator in this confrontation.
Initially Tehran counted on China’s support as a guarantor of the deal, but Beijing did not express a willingness to take on a formal mediator role, which could complicate further negotiations.
On Wednesday, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi held a phone call with Abbas Araghchi and urged a “proper” resolution to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that “the dawn of peace has appeared” and that the most important thing is for all sides to honor commitments and avoid interference.
While it is hard to gauge the scale of Beijing’s diplomatic influence in supporting the latest deal, its public visits have reinforced the message of a responsible role in the global architecture of peace and stability.
As the two sides move forward in negotiations, many experts are watching whether the United States has indeed gained significant economic benefits from the conflict on the world stage.
In China, where opposition to a unipolar world order is central to foreign policy, scholars’ views are once again debating what role the conflict plays in positioning the country on the world stage.
Some analysts question whether this is truly the so-called “Suez Moment” for the United States – a hint at a possible loss of influence over key routes in the Middle East and changes in the global coalition structure.
Is the scene that cast a shadow over the British Empire during the Suez Crisis now repeating itself with the United States in the Strait of Hormuz?
– Sun Degang
“Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been the world’s sole superpower. But today Washington’s military power is not as unquestioned as Washington expected, and the absence of key allies underscores growing splits in the global coalition system led by the United States,” said Sun Degang.
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has become the world’s sole superpower. However this time the U.S. military power was not as invincible as Washington imagined, and the lack of key allies indicates growing fissures in the global alliance system led by the United States.
– Sun Degang
There are also discussions in Western circles, but in China there are voices emphasizing Beijing’s ability to learn from Washington’s war.
China has no interest in bearing the laurels of victory from distant Middle East conflicts
– Hu Xijin
According to experts, the war has changed the worldview on China – it demonstrated the effectiveness of its strategic planning to overcome energy shocks and the appeal of the country’s peaceful “path of development.”
The Taiwan crisis has turned the United States into a relatively weaker deterrent; this underscores the limits of its arms stockpiles and the lack of a broad coalition
– Hu Xijin
Although China traditionally advocates multipolarity in the world, during the conflict it has carefully balanced the interests of various sides, not seeking to take direct leadership in the world order.
According to analysts, the United States remains the most influential external actor in the Middle East, but its influence requires greater political, military, economic, and reputational returns.
The conflict may make the world view from China more attractive to many countries, underscoring its commitment to sovereignty, non-interference, political settlement, and development as key security factors.
At the same time, experts warn: trust in China is built not only on critical assessments of the United States but also on its ability to offer practical diplomatic solutions, ensure energy stability, and facilitate de-escalation.
Overall, China is using the crisis to expand its diplomatic influence and promote a multipolar world order, where its economic growth and peaceful foreign policy stand as significant factors of global stability.
In the future, China’s role in the global architecture of peace and security will remain a topic of active discussion among analysts and political observers.
Overall, the developments around the Iran war and China’s role underscore Beijing’s intention to strengthen its position on the global stage and move multipolarity toward a more stable world order.