Xi and Putin show unity on Israel-Iran conflict, message to Trump

Xi and Putin show unity on Israel-Iran conflict, message to Trump

In a recent phone call, the leaders of China and Russia, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, positioned themselves as voices of reason and called for de-escalation of a conflict that President Donald Trump has said the U.S. may want to intervene in. This dynamic shows how Beijing and Moscow present themselves as an alternative to US violence.

Positioning of China and Russia

As Trump considers possible US military involvement in an attack on Iran, Beijing and Moscow see the opportunity to position themselves as a counterpart to US power. In their conversation, Putin and Xi sharply criticized Israel's actions and described them as a violation of the UN Charter and other international legal norms. However, the big problem remains that Russia itself is violating the law internationally, as demonstrated in the Ukraine conflict.

China's containment policy

Xi Jinping's comments on the call were more measured, without directly condemning Israel, a contrast to his foreign minister's approach in a conversation with Iran's foreign minister. Instead, the Chinese leader called on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to immediately reach a ceasefire to avoid further escalation and regional repercussions.

The role of the USA in the Middle East

China has long criticized the United States as a source of instability and tension in the Middle East. Some Chinese scholars are using the current crisis in Iran to support this view. Liu Zhongmin, a Middle East expert at Shanghai International Studies University, said the uncertainties created by Trump's second term contributed to the current escalation. He argued that Trump had seriously undermined the authority and credibility of US policy in the Middle East.

A new military intervention?

Some Chinese commentators have noted that Trump is on the verge of drawing the US deeper into a new so-called “forever war” in the Middle East. Despite his initial focus on containing China in the Indo-Pacific, he remains confronted with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

China's interests in Iran

Beijing is not interested in a large-scale war against Iran because it could endanger the regime. Iran has become a major power in the Middle East under the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, playing a crucial role as a counterweight to US dominance. China is also working to expand its diplomatic and economic ties with the region.

China's diplomatic strategy

China has strongly supported Iran in the past, particularly through consistent oil imports and its position on the UN Security Council. The two countries have also forged strategic ties by conducting joint naval exercises with Russia and admitting Iran into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS to challenge the US-led world order.

China's mediation claims

Like Russia, China has also offered itself as a potential mediator in the Israel-Iran conflict and would like to present itself as a peace broker. Xi put forward four proposals to de-escalate tensions during his phone call with Putin, including a peaceful solution to the Iran nuclear issue and protecting civilians. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi held numerous talks this week with his counterparts in Iran, Israel, Egypt and Oman.

Uncertainty about China's influence

Although China offers itself as a mediator, it remains unclear what concrete steps it can actually take to resolve the conflict. This challenge is compounded by China's lack of experience in dealing with protracted conflicts in a politically divided region.

A strategic moment for China

At a time when US global leadership is increasingly being questioned, China's portrayal as a voice of restraint in the Iran conflict could already prove a symbolic success. Despite the challenges of dealing with such conflicts, this positioning could provide Beijing with long-term benefits.