CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

China Plays It Smart in the Iran War

China has played a cautious hand on Iran. It has chosen not to try to defend a country that is a major source of oil and officially a “comprehensive strategic partner.”

Instead, it has urged a diplomatic solution that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and maintain adherence to international law, rather safe positions in line with China’s claim to be a “responsible great power.” Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other top Chinese officials have been quite critical of Trump, though without naming him, accusing the US of applying the “law of the jungle” and acting like a hegemon.

So far, that has not stopped Trump from planning to visit next week. But I can imagine that some of Trump’s advisers, worried about his weakened position at home and abroad, would be delighted if the trip were postponed a second time.

China has been very careful about helping in Iran’s defense. Beijing is assisting Iran in much the same way it has assisted Russia in the Ukraine war—by providing military support that falls short of finished weapons or other critical resources. When US intelligence accused China of planning to provide shoulder-held antiaircraft weapons, China denied the charge and Trump said that Xi assured him the report was false.

On the other hand, the Wall Street Journal reports that the “Chinese artificial-intelligence company MizarVision claimed on social media to have tracked the movements of American aircraft carriers, F-22 stealth fighters and B-52 bombers by using AI to analyze satellite data” (Chinese satellites over Mideast battlefield put US on edge). Whether or not China is providing Iran with this data is uncertain, but the Pentagon is said to be worried about commercial satellites putting militarily sensitive information before the public.

China’s Policy Begins at Home

Chinese leaders have always believed that foreign policy begins at home. China’s economy is not untouched by the war. It buys around 90 percent of Iran’s oil, which accounts for roughly 11-13 percent of China’s oil imports.

But China has other sources of oil, such as Russia via a direct pipeline and large strategic oil reserves. China also has plenty of coal and solar,........

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