Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In a recent statement by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China
did not condemn Iran’s attack on Israel, affirming that Iran’s action was limited and
an act of self-defence. This stance has been lauded by those who are no longer in favour of the US’ seemingly unconditional and sometimes questionable support of Israel.
China’s refusal to condemn Iran is not merely a spontaneous reaction but rather, a calculated strategic manoeuvre to assert itself as a prominent player in global politics. For years, China has sought to counterbalance American hegemony, and the current Israel-Iran conflict presents a prime opportunity for it to do so.
The Middle East has long been a key strategic region for the US. But after the Trump administration pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran, the region has become increasingly destabilised. In this vacuum, China has apparently abandoned its position of non-interference in an overt move to undermine US influence in the region.
Today, not only has China become Iran’s top export partner, buying up an estimated 90 per cent of the sanction-hit country’s crude oil exports, but it has also taken up the role of peace broker, as seen in last year’s China-led detente between
Saudi Arabia and Iran.
To further solidify its position as a viable alternative world leader, China should continue to demonstrate impartiality in international conflicts and strengthen its ties with nations disillusioned with US hegemony.
For starters, China should repair its image and establish itself as a fair arbiter in its own backyard, the South China Sea. Despite the lingering sense of distrust among its neighbours, particularly after the
Spratly Islands dispute, China’s pro-Palestinian stance is surely warmly welcomed in this Muslim-majority region. By standing up for Iran and brokering peace, China may one day win the hearts and minds of Asia’s many Muslim-majority countries, a crucial part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
