The People’s Republic of China in the Context of American–Israeli Aggression Against Iran

China responds to international challenges, including aggression against Iran, not through the use of force but by means of a long-term strategy grounded in political and economic engagement and the maintenance of mutually beneficial relations, while preserving channels of dialogue with the United States.

On China’s Response to Aggression Against Iran

First and foremost, it is necessary to clarify a sense of perplexion which frequently emerges regarding the nature of China’s response to the evident infringement of its international interests initiated by its principal geopolitical opponent. It should be emphasized that the extremely complex and multifaceted processes accompanying the radical restructuring of the global order cannot be adequately described within the framework of simplified assessments that reduce the matter to the question, “What will our response be?”

It is important to note that the escalation of militaristic rhetoric does not generally tally with traditional Chinese culture, which seeks to achieve victory in conflicts without resorting to military action. In this regard, “culture” is understood as one of the most significant philosophical categories, in which the sphere of responsibility of the state body bearing the same name occupies a secondary place. At the same time, the People’s Republic of China does not deny the importance of the military component as one of the instruments for defending national interests. However, the “rattling of sabres” is initiated primarily in case of a threat to territorial integrity. The Taiwan issue serves as an example, although even here, Beijing gives preference to peaceful means of resolution.

Peaceful methods also play a key role in the international arena, in accordance with the fundamental principles of state-building in China. Thus, the factor of lagging behind the United States in military potential is unlikely to be decisive in Beijing’s current response to challenges to its........

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