China Pushes For Global Leadership In Iran War, But Nobody Is Listening
As the Iran war escalated globally, China stepped forward with a 5-point peace proposal alongside Pakistan, rallied Gulf nations, and openly opposed a UN plan to use military force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration called China’s effort “performative.” Former U.S. diplomat Danny Russel compared it to China’s failed 2023 Ukraine plan — full of platitudes, never acted on. Washington remained “agnostic,” neither endorsing nor rejecting Beijing’s push.
The conflict sharply escalated when Iran shot down 2 U.S. military aircraft — a first in 5 weeks of war. Trump declared America had “completely decimated Iran,” yet insisted it would not derail ongoing negotiations.
China imports only 13% of its oil from Iran and holds large strategic reserves. Beijing secured passage for Chinese-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz — but analysts warned a prolonged war still threatens its export-heavy economy.
Wang Yi called counterparts from Russia, Iran, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — over 20 calls in total. A special envoy toured the region while Pakistan co-authored Beijing’s 5-point peace proposal.
China blocked Bahrain’s UN proposal to authorize military force in the strait, calling it illegal. But Beijing’s own 5-point plan received near-total Washington silence — dismissed as too vague to function as a real peace roadmap.
