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In China, the US war against Iran is seen as a mistake, and they are not getting involved

In China, the US war against Iran is seen as a mistake, and they are not getting involved

Artur Romanchenko Journalist

02 April 2026, 15:44

In China, the US war against Iran is seen as a mistake, and they are not getting involved — Illustration The Economist Getty Images

Beijing believes that the war against Iran has not shifted the balance of power in the US’s favour and regards it as a strategic mistake. The Chinese authorities are deliberately refraining from intervening in the conflict.

A war against Iran was seen as a move intended to reshape the situation in the Middle East by weakening the Iranian regime and curbing its nuclear ambitions. Supporters of this strategy also believed that the conflict could affect the global balance of power by demonstrating China’s vulnerability to US control over oil flows and strengthening the deterrent factor. This is reported in a news announcement by The Economist.

A month after the start of hostilities, these expectations have not materialised. In Beijing, this logic is seen as flawed.

According to diplomats, advisers, academics, and current and former Chinese officials, the war is seen as a serious miscalculation by the US. China is not intervening in the conflict and is adopting a wait-and-see stance.

This stance is explained by an approach attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. His remark that one should not interfere with an opponent when they make a mistake is used to explain China’s actions in the context of the current conflict.

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