In the days and weeks following the end of the 12-day war, some Western media outlets attempted to project a particular image of Iran\u2013China relations to public opinion. In their dominant narrative, China\u2014as a major global power\u2014did not provide significant support to Iran during the conflict and, in a sense, abandoned its strategic partner. Such intentional analyses often overlook the complexities of China\u2019s foreign policy, its regional role, and the fundamental principles guiding Beijing\u2019s diplomacy in crises of this kind. Others try to compare the U.S. approach toward the Zionist regime with China\u2019s approach toward Iran, concluding that the U.S. is a more reliable ally than any other country.<\/p>\n
This note first explains China’s approach to crises of this nature and then examines Beijing’s handling of the 12-day war, the nature of Iran\u2013China relations, and how this relationship differs from the U.S.\u2013Israel relationship.<\/p>\n
The People\u2019s Republic of China has consistently emphasized the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries in its foreign policy, considering it a foundational pillar of the international order it seeks to promote. (China\u2019s positions during the Darfur crisis in Sudan, the Syrian civil war, and its efforts to prevent foreign interventions in both are clear examples of this commitment.)<\/p>\n
For this reason, China is reluctant to enter military alliances, which may drag Beijing into unwanted conflicts. Unlike some global powers that resort to direct military intervention or heavy political pressure in regional or international crises (such as U.S. behavior toward countries like Iraq and Syria), China prefers to position itself as a neutral mediator, a responsible actor, and a supporter of peaceful conflict resolution.<\/p>\n
This approach fits within China\u2019s grand strategy of building a \u201cCommunity of Shared Future for Mankind,\u201d a concept emphasizing cooperation, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for national sovereignty, and resolving disputes through dialogue[1]<\/span><\/a>. China seeks to distance itself from the image of a \u201cpower that disrupts the international order\u201d and instead present itself as an actor committed to global stability, relying on diplomacy to reduce tensions. China\u2019s role in facilitating the normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia also aligns with this framework.<\/p>\n During the recent war, China strongly condemned the attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime, describing the U.S. strike on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities as \u201cbrazen.\u201d This firm diplomatic stance demonstrated China\u2019s clear political support for Iran.<\/p>\n However, a fundamental question arises:<\/p>\n If China supports Iran so strongly on the political level, why did it not extend this support to direct or field-level involvement? Why, unlike the United States\u2014which intervened actively and directly in support of Israel\u2014did China not take similar action for Iran?<\/p>\n The answer lies in two main factors:<\/p>\n The intensity of the conflict and Iran\u2019s lack of request for third-party intervention<\/p>\n The nature and structure of the bilateral relations each of these countries has with their respective partners<\/p>\n During the 12-day Iran\u2013Israel conflict, one major reason for China\u2019s non-intervention was Iran\u2019s military capability to manage the crisis independently. According to sources such as The Wall Street Journal[2]<\/span><\/a>, Iran inflicted significant damage on Israeli infrastructure and military centers without needing direct foreign assistance. Moreover, Iran made no official request for intervention or support from its partners, and Iran and China have no mutual defense treaty. Thus, China\u2019s absence cannot be interpreted as indifference.<\/p>\n China\u2019s behavior must also be understood within the context of the war\u2019s short duration. Comparing 12 days of war in Iran with the first 12 days of the Russia\u2013Ukraine war shows that China did not intervene in that conflict early on either. However, over time, it became one of Russia\u2019s main oil buyers and, according to Business Insider[3]<\/span><\/a>, some components used in military equipment now reach Russia through Chinese companies. Therefore, expecting immediate intervention from China in a short-term conflict like Iran\u2019s is inconsistent with Beijing\u2019s foreign policy logic.<\/p>\n In discussing the difference between Iran\u2013China relations and U.S.\u2013Israel relations, it must be noted that the relationship between the United States and the Zionist regime is a deep ideological, strategic, and structural one. Israel, as a regional actor, is essentially a creation of the West designed to contain developments in West Asia\u2014an instrument for advancing the geopolitical interests of the West, especially the United States. This is clearly reflected in the unconditional political, military, and security support the West provides to Israel. In reality, without this military and diplomatic backing, the Israeli regime would not be able to withstand powerful regional actors such as Iran[4]<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n By contrast, Iran\u2019s relationship with China has a different nature. China views Iran as a strategic partner in West Asia. The 25-year strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries and China\u2019s support for Iran in international organizations attest to this. Moreover, Iran possesses a distinctive feature compared to China\u2019s other regional partners: a shared ideological position with China in opposing the unipolar world order and countering U.S. hegemony (as reflected in the 2016 joint Iran\u2013China statement, which clearly expressed opposition to a unipolar order)[5]<\/span><\/a>. This shared worldview has formed the foundation of a growing strategic convergence between Tehran and Beijing.<\/p>\n The relationship between the United States and the Zionist regime is a profoundly ideological, strategic, and structural relationship. Israel, as a regional actor, is essentially a Western-made project designed to contain regional developments in West Asia\u2014an instrument for securing Western geopolitical interests, especially those of the United States. This is evident in the unconditional political, military, and security support the West provides to Israel.<\/p>\n In reality, the Israeli regime would not survive against powerful regional actors like Iran without this Western military and diplomatic backing.<\/p>\n By contrast, Iran\u2019s relationship with China has a different nature. China views Iran as a strategic partner in West Asia. The 25-year strategic cooperation agreement and China\u2019s support for Iran in international organizations testify to this.<\/p>\n However, Iran has a distinctive characteristic that sets it apart from China\u2019s other regional partners: a shared discourse with China in opposing the unipolar world order and U.S. hegemony. (This is evident in the 2016 joint statement between Iran and China, which clearly expressed opposition to a unipolar order.)<\/p>\n This shared worldview forms the basis of a growing strategic convergence between Tehran and Beijing.<\/p>\n As noted earlier, given the shared views of Iran and China regarding the desired global order and their opposition to U.S. hegemony, greater closeness between the two countries generates increasing concern for the West\u2014especially in West Asia.<\/p>\n U.S. strategic documents (such as the National Security Strategy and annual threat assessments) state that the U.S. must focus its resources on containing China and avoid dispersing its capacities in regions like Europe and West Asia. Hillary Clinton, the former U.S. Secretary of State, wrote in a 2011 Foreign Policy article:<\/p>\n \u201cThe future of global politics will be decided in Asia, not in Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action.\u201d[6]<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This sentence captures the essence of the \u201cPivot to Asia\u201d strategy\u2014a reallocation of U.S. resources and strategic focus toward the Asia\u2013Pacific to contain China and maintain American global primacy.<\/p>\n However, such a strategy requires the U.S. to first establish a stable and favorable order in other regions before reducing its presence\u2014rather than withdrawing abruptly and irresponsibly. In this context, Iran, as the most important obstacle to U.S. influence in West Asia, and China, as the main global challenger to the American-led order, could, through deeper cooperation, create serious strategic challenges for the West.<\/p>\n Other reasons the West (especially the U.S.) opposes stronger Iran\u2013China relations include:<\/p>\n Fear of weakened sanctions: Iran\u2019s oil exports have nearly returned to pre-\u201cmaximum pressure\u201d levels (about 1.9 million barrels per day in June 2025)[7]<\/span><\/a>. Nearly 90% of this oil is purchased by China, reducing the effectiveness of Western sanctions.<\/p>\n Loss of American dominance in the region: Iranian\u2013Chinese (and Iranian\u2013Russian) cooperation creates a geopolitical axis independent of the West in Central and West Asia. China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative seeks to expand economic\u2013political influence, and Iran is a key node in this project[8]<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Guaranteed access to energy for China: Long-term access to Iranian oil and gas strengthens China\u2019s strategic endurance in its competition with the U.S.<\/p>\n China\u2019s approach to the 12-day war should not be interpreted as indifference or retreat from its strategic partnership with Iran. Rather, it is fully consistent with Beijing\u2019s long-standing and stable foreign policy: prioritizing stability, avoiding direct military involvement, and maintaining geopolitical balance.<\/p>\n China\u2019s understanding of power\u2014unlike the Western view based on confrontation and hard alignment\u2014is grounded in gradual, discursive, and long-term influence.<\/p>\n Thus, China\u2019s strong political support for Iran during the war, while refraining from military intervention, is not a sign of abandonment but a reflection of Beijing\u2019s confidence in Iran\u2019s ability to manage the crisis and preserve the strategic partnership without costly military displays.<\/p>\n What worries the West today is not China\u2019s absence in one short conflict, but China\u2019s growing, enduring, and quiet presence in regional dynamics through mechanisms far less dramatic but far more consequential for shaping the emerging global order.<\/p>\n [1]<\/span><\/a> Explanation of the concept of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind in China\u2019s Xinhua News Agency.\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/english.news.cn\/20230323\/6d411c2465664137a7ad8e45ac0de8da\/c.html<\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/span><\/a> \u201cThe Wall Street Journal report in which a section refers to Iran\u2019s offensive capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/trump-iran-israel-nuclear-program-693a4e2a?mod=e2tw<\/a><\/p>\n [3]<\/span><\/a> The Business Insider report regarding China\u2019s military assistance to Russia.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/china-sending-russia-masses-of-military-gear-including-drones-report-2023-7?international=true&r=US&IR=T<\/a><\/p>\n [4]<\/span><\/a> The Middle East Eye report on Israel\u2019s inability to confront Iran.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.middleeasteye.net\/opinion\/israels-failure-subdue-iran-shows-it-can-no-longer-dictate-regional-order<\/a><\/p>\n [5]<\/span><\/a> The 2016 joint statement of Iran and China on the official website of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran.<\/p>\n https:\/\/president.ir\/fa\/91433<\/a><\/p>\n [6]<\/span><\/a> Hillary Clinton\u2019s Foreign Policy article titled America\u2019s Pacific Century.<\/p>\n https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2011\/10\/11\/americas-pacific-century\/<\/a><\/p>\n [7]<\/span><\/a> The Vortexa report on the volume of Iran\u2019s oil sales to China in June 2025.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.vortexa.com\/insights\/crude\/chinas-iranian-crude-imports-near-record-high-again\/<\/a><\/p>\nChina and the 12-Day War<\/h2>\n
The Difference Between Iran\u2013China Relations and U.S.\u2013Israel Relations<\/h2>\n
Why Does the West Seek to Create a Rift Between Iran and China?<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n