The recent conflict involving Iran exposed a reality that has been building for years: China has become one of the principal enablers of the military capabilities of two of Israel’s most consequential adversaries, Iran and Pakistan. Beijing rarely sits at the center of Middle Eastern crises, but its long-term choices have helped shape a strategic environment that is now harder for Israel to manage. Unlike the United States or Russia, China has built its influence without alliances or expeditionary deployments, relying instead on arms transfers, dual-use technology, industrial cooperation, economic investment and diplomatic cover. The effect has been the steady strengthening of states that often share an interest in limiting Israeli and American reach across the region and actively empowering terrorists against Israel.

Pakistan illustrates the pattern clearly. Over three decades China has turned it into its closest military partner: the Pakistan Air Force now relies heavily on Chinese-built aircraft, including the JF-17 and the J-10CE, while its navy is acquiring Chinese submarines and frigates and its missile and air defense systems have benefited from extensive Chinese cooperation. Multiple Western studies have concluded that Chinese assistance has been central to the........

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