Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz this week, a move highlighting Beijing's strategic pivot during the US-Israel war on Iran. This approach allows China to safeguard its extensive economic interests while presenting itself as a responsible global actor, according to analysis from the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations. Xi's measured statements stood in stark contrast to the confrontational rhetoric emanating from Washington.
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, reiterating Beijing’s support for diplomatic solutions. He emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must maintain normal passage. This serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community, Xi said, according to a Chinese readout of the call.
The message was clear. It avoided direct mention of the United States or Iran, the two nations whose actions have brought the vital waterway to a near standstill for the past seven weeks. Iran moved to close the strait to most marine traffic following the war's launch on February 28.
The U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports on April 13. Xi’s careful diplomacy presents a sharp contrast to statements from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump declared on social media the same day, "I’m winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well," and affirmed the naval blockade would continue until Washington achieved a "DEAL" with Tehran. Here is what they are not telling you: Beijing leverages this disparity. It uses the conflict to subtly elevate its own image as a more stable, less volatile superpower, preferring to operate discreetly rather than take center stage. “China is gaining not by doing any dramatic moves but waiting and seeing and using opportunities as they come to position, and letting the Americans deal with the mess,” Gedaliah Afterman, head of the Asia-Israel policy programme at the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, told Al Jazeera.
This strategy builds on China’s long-standing foreign policy of “noninterference” in the internal affairs of other nations. This principle has allowed Beijing to maintain working relationships with all key players in the ongoing conflict. China’s economic footprint in the region is substantial.
It stands as Iran’s largest trade partner, purchasing up to 90 percent of its oil, according to the US-China Economic and Security Commission. In 2021, Beijing solidified this relationship by signing a 25-year “comprehensive strategic partnership agreement” with Tehran. Simultaneously, China has spent the last decade cultivating robust ties with Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
It remains a top trade partner for both the United States and Israel. “China keeps good relations with the US, Israel, Iran and the Gulf Arab states,” said Ma Xiaolin, dean of the Mediterranean Rim Institute at Zhejiang International Studies University. He added, “All those countries are our friends, even if they are enemies.” This balance provides Beijing significant leverage. This commitment to nonintervention likely influenced China’s veto earlier this month of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
That resolution called for member states to “coordinate efforts, defensive in nature” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. China has consistently vetoed similar intervention efforts in other recent conflicts, such as in Syria and Myanmar. The math does not add up for Beijing to directly engage militarily.
Its core interests in the Middle East remain overwhelmingly economic, unlike the United States’ broader strategic focus, which has historically included regime change efforts, according to Chang Ching, senior research fellow at the Society for Strategic Studies in Taipei. “They expect peace and stability,” Chang stated. “They are not really concerned with who wins the conflict. Their wish is to try to restore the peaceful environment in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.” Peace directly benefits China’s commercial endeavors; war disrupts them. Feng Chucheng, founding partner of the Beijing-based Hutong Research, noted that a further escalation in the war “would threaten China’s economic and energy security to a degree that could force direct involvement.” Over 40 percent of China’s crude oil imports originate from the Middle East.
Such entanglement would risk derailing its delicate balance between Iran and the Gulf states, Chucheng wrote in a research note to clients this month. Follow the leverage, not the rhetoric; China's economic ties drive its policy. Beijing has actively used its “friend to all” position to mediate a peaceful resolution.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, made 26 phone calls between February 28 and the lead-up to the Iran-U.S. ceasefire on April 8, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, held nearly two dozen meetings with key actors. President Xi also participated in a meeting last week with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, before his call with Saudi Crown Prince MBS.
Despite this flurry of diplomatic activity, Beijing has curiously downplayed its role in brokering the two-week ceasefire reached earlier this month. This contrasts sharply with its high-profile role in the 2023 normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Beijing wants to avoid becoming embroiled in a complex peace deal. “They’re trying to be a peacemaker without underwriting the peace process,” Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told Al Jazeera. “The bottom line is the Middle East is far from a core interest of China, so it has limited political capital to spend.” Even with this cautious approach, Beijing’s efforts are not going unnoticed. “I think the world knows who provides stability, who provides security and who dismantled the international law and governance system,” Ma from Zhejiang International Studies University observed.
This suggests an ongoing narrative battle for global influence. Western media reports have hinted at China’s potential behind-the-scenes maneuvering. CNN reported earlier this month that China was preparing to deliver a shipment of Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) to Iran, citing Western intelligence officials.
This report was followed by a Financial Times investigation this month. It found Iran acquired a Chinese spy satellite in 2024 and has used it to target U.S. military bases across the Middle East. Jodie Wen, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University in Beijing, expressed doubt about Beijing being so “careless” before a planned meeting between Xi and Trump in May. “For the Chinese government, the China-Iran relationship is important and so is the China-US relationship,” Wen told Al Jazeera.
Beijing faces a delicate balancing act. Why It Matters: China's navigation of this complex regional conflict holds significant implications for global power dynamics and energy markets. Its ability to maintain ties with all parties, even adversaries, could reshape future diplomatic engagement models.
For consumers globally, the stability of the Strait of Hormuz directly impacts oil prices and supply chain reliability. Beijing's cautious approach, focused on economic stability, highlights a shift from traditional military intervention to a more commercially driven foreign policy, potentially setting a precedent for other rising powers. This strategic stance allows China to expand its influence without the direct costs and political liabilities often associated with military engagement, offering a different model for great power competition in a multipolar world.
Key Takeaways: - China advocates for open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to protect its vital energy and trade routes. - Beijing maintains economic ties with Iran, Gulf states, the U.S., and Israel, leveraging a noninterference policy. - Chinese diplomatic efforts include numerous high-level calls, but Beijing downplays direct mediation roles to avoid entanglement. - Western intelligence reports suggest China may be providing military support to Iran, complicating its neutral stance. President Xi is scheduled to discuss a trade deal and U.S. tariffs with Trump in May. Trump has separately threatened to impose 50 percent tariffs on countries supplying arms to Iran.
Beijing is also preparing for the second China-Arab Summit, aiming to finalize a free-trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council. China will weigh these factors carefully as it considers its next moves in the Iran war and plans for its eventual aftermath. “China is walking a tightrope when it comes to balancing its relationships,” Afterman said. Beijing seeks a strong position on both sides of the Gulf for future reconstruction and renewed economic activities.
Its long-term strategic positioning remains the priority.
Key Takeaways
— - China advocates for open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to protect its vital energy and trade routes.
— - Beijing maintains economic ties with Iran, Gulf states, the U.S., and Israel, leveraging a noninterference policy.
— - Chinese diplomatic efforts include numerous high-level calls, but Beijing downplays direct mediation roles to avoid entanglement.
— - Western intelligence reports suggest China may be providing military support to Iran, complicating its neutral stance.
Source: Al Jazeera
