China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work?

## Summary
China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work? 24 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Laura Bicker China correspondent Getty Images Xi Jinping is trying to mediate in the Middle East conflict As the war in the Middle East enters its second month, choking the world's energy supply and sending oil prices soaring, China is trying to step in as a peacemaker. China's backing on this is "very important," says Zhu Yongbiao, a Middle East expert and director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University. "Morally, politically and diplomatically, China is providing comprehensive support with the hope that Pakistan can play a more distinctive role." It is also a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response to the war has so far been quite muted. Getty Images Conflict across the Middle East continues to rage after the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February The peace plan was drafted after Pakistan's foreign minister flew to Beijing to ask for Chinese support for the country's efforts to negotiate an end to this conflict. Reuters Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi The US trade war with China during Trump's first term led many business owners across the country to look for new markets around the world.

## Article Content
China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work?
24 minutes ago
Share
Save
Add as preferred on Google
Laura Bicker
China correspondent
Getty Images
Xi Jinping is trying to mediate in the Middle East conflict
As the war in the Middle East enters its second month, choking the world's energy supply and sending oil prices soaring, China is trying to step in as a peacemaker.
It comes as President Donald Trump says US military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks", but there is no clear sense yet of how that will happen or what comes after.
China joins Pakistan, which has emerged as an unlikely mediator in the US-Israel war against Iran. Officials in Beijing and Islamabad have presented a five-point plan with the aim of bringing about a ceasefire and re-opening the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan, which has been a US ally in the past, seems to have won over Trump to mediate this conflict.
Beijing, however, is entering the fray as a rival to Washington, and ahead of a crucial trade talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump next month.
China's backing on this is "very important," says Zhu Yongbiao, a Middle East expert and director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University.
"Morally, politically and diplomatically, China is providing comprehensive support with the hope that Pakistan can play a more distinctive role."
It is also a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response to the war has so far been quite muted. So why is China stepping in now?
Getty Images
Conflict across the Middle East continues to rage after the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February
The peace plan was drafted after Pakistan's foreign minister flew to Beijing to ask for Chinese support for the country's efforts to negotiate an end to this conflict.
His efforts appear to have worked. China's Foreign Ministry said the two were making "new efforts towards advocating for peace." The joint statement agreed that dialogue and diplomacy were "the only viable option to resolve conflicts", and it called for waterways, including the blockaded strait, to be protected.
It's not just about oil, although that will be a concern. China, the biggest importer of crude oil in the world, has enough stockpiled to get it through the next few months.
Beijing will likely have decided to play the role of peacemaker because the war in Iran jeopardises something Xi covets: stability. China needs a stable global economy as it is heavily reliant on selling goods around the world as it tries to revive an ailing domestic economy.
"If the rest of the world begins to slow down economically because of an energy shock, that's going to be tough for China's factories and exporters," says Matt Pottinger, Chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy's China Program.
"That's why I think when I see China's foreign minister just this week advising Iran that we need to find a way to end this war, I think there's some sincerity there. I think that Beijing is a little bit worried about where this could lead if it turns into a real energy shock that is protracted."
There are already fears that China's industrial heartland, which serves as the factory of the world, will be impacted in the long term if this crisis continues.
Paying a higher price for oil affects the whole supply chain, from the plastics needed to make toys and games, to the raw materials for modern synthetic fabrics, to the hundreds of components that go into phones, electric cars and semiconductors.
Reuters
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi
The US trade war with China during Trump's first term led many business owners across the country to look for new markets around the world.
As a result, China's exports to the Middle East grew nearly twice as fast as its exports to the rest of the world last year. The region has become the fastest growing market for electric cars, and China is also the largest investor in desalination in the Middle East, where potable water is scarce.
The Power Construction Corporation of China has projects in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Oman and Iraq.
As a result of its economic ties, China has cultivated relationships across the region with both US allies, such as Saudi Arabia, and foes, such as Iran.
Tehran and Beijing have a partnership dating back decades. China is Iran's leading trade partner and it buys around 80% of Iranian oil.
The Chinese government has played the role of peacemaker in the Middle East before, with limited success.
In 2023 it brokered a deal between bitter rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, which lave long stood on opposing sides in proxy wars in the Middle East. They severed ties in 2016 when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia Muslim scholar, triggering protests in Iran with crowds attacking its embassy in Tehran.
After China took up the mantel as mediator, the two sides agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations. This was in China's interest.

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- China's backing on this is "very important," says Zhu Yongbiao, a Middle East expert and director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University. "Morally, politically and diplomatically, China is providing comprehensive support with the hope that Pakistan can play a more distinctive role." It is also a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response to the war has so far been quite muted.
- The Chinese government has played the role of peacemaker in the Middle East before, with limited success.
- The declaration was more an expression of intent rather than a comprehensive agreement, but once again, it highlighted the role China can play in the region, and its interest in stability in the Middle East.

### Areas for Consideration
- It's not just about oil, although that will be a concern.
- How Pakistan won over Trump to become an unlikely mediator in the Iran war Asia's migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war South Korea to Sri Lanka: How the Iran war impacts you if you live in Asia Asia China Iran Iran-US relations Iran war

### Implications
- China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work? 24 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Laura Bicker China correspondent Getty Images Xi Jinping is trying to mediate in the Middle East conflict As the war in the Middle East enters its second month, choking the world's energy supply and sending oil prices soaring, China is trying to step in as a peacemaker.
- It comes as President Donald Trump says US military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks", but there is no clear sense yet of how that will happen or what comes after.
- It's not just about oil, although that will be a concern.
- Beijing will likely have decided to play the role of peacemaker because the war in Iran jeopardises something Xi covets: stability.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers china, iran, war topics. Notable strengths include discussion of china. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1337.