China plays peacemaker while letting US bleed in Iran
Analysis
China plays peacemaker while letting US bleed in Iran
Beijing’s push for a ceasefire in the Iran war highlights its diplomatic ambitions — but entrenched actors and limited leverage leave its plan short on real prospects.
Joyce Karam
Apr 2, 2026
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Diaoytai State Guest House in Beijing, China, on March 31, 2026. — Pakistani Foreign Ministry
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In Beijing this week, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, hosted Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar in an effort to end the Iran war, which has dragged into its second month, with the US’s initial goal of a Venezuela-like regime change proving fleeting.
The five-point peace plan, as Beatrice Farhat reported, calls for an immediate ceasefire, the start of peace talks, halting attacks on non-military targets like power plants, ensuring safe ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz and respecting UN resolutions.
In theory, the proposal's aim is to provide an acceptable........
