Flashpoints | Security | East Asia

Helping Iran, China Is a Party in the War

Several reports in recent weeks have revealed the extent of China’s active support for Iran.

China may claim neutrality and call for peace in the Middle East, but it is heavily invested in the Iran conflict. Perhaps because of its dependence on Iran for energy security, it is transferring dual-use technologies as well as military items, as has been reported in the media.

China has an arms-supply relationship with Iran that goes back decades and includes evasion of U.N. sanctions, such as getting oil in return for weapons. And, along with Russia and Iran, China has a broader strategic interest in undermining the United States and the U.S.-led international order. This motivation makes China’s actions even more concerning.

Several reports in recent weeks have revealed the extent of China’s active support for Iran. The Financial Times reported on April 15 that China had given Iran a commercial reconnaissance satellite, providing Tehran with precise targeting information to hit U.S. military facilities in the Middle East. A Chinese company, Earth Eye Co, reportedly built and launched the TEE-01B satellite and provided in-orbit delivery to Iran. Another Chinese company, Emposat, also supplied Iran with satellite data and control services. These must have helped Iran target U.S. bases in the war.

Other reports point to a Chinese geospatial AI and software company, MizarVision, which published satellite imagery with tagging data on several U.S. military facilities prior to and even during the war.

On April 12, CNN reported that China was providing Iran with new air-defense systems in the coming weeks. These were shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, CNN said, relatively short-range systems. But they still represent a serious danger to both helicopters and low-flying combat aircraft. The U.S.-built Stinger is a good example; its earlier version was credited........

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