As Israeli-American military firepower brutally targets innocent civilians in Iran, one wonders if China will use its economic and technological might to halt this unjust campaign. Will two wars on Iran within nine months (June 2025 and March 2026) prompt China to step out of its traditional policy of restraint, anchored in peaceful conflict resolution, avoidance of confrontation and non-interference? Or are Russia and China, two of the five UN Security Council members, waiting to intervene before the world plunges into perpetual uncertainty?

The events, especially since the post October 2023 Israeli genocide in Gaza, make it clear that moralistic positions alone are ineffective. They failed to prevent the murder of over 72,000 Palestinians and could not prevent the displacement of nearly two million Gazans. Nor could these positions prevent invasion of Venezuela and Iran. Aggressive economic and defence tools are most probably the best way to challenge self-serving military invasions.

Moral appeals for restraint and de-escalation are essential part of international conflict resolution, but as evidenced by the Gaza crisis and the current war on Iran, they are insufficient to prevent, stop or comprehend a multidimensional geopolitical crisis stemming from the self-righteous conduct of two states.

Moral exhortations can't neutralise or shield against deception. The attack on Iran occurred during an ongoing diplomatic process,........

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