China and Russia are aligning as voices of restraint amid the escalating Israel-Iran crisis, projecting themselves as responsible actors as the United States, under President Donald Trump, considers joining military efforts.
During a phone call on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Israel’s military actions. The Kremlin called them violations of international law and the UN Charter. Although Beijing’s official statement was more restrained, Xi urged a rapid ceasefire, emphasizing that major powers should help cool — not fuel — the situation.
Analysts in Beijing see the moment as a reflection of American unpredictability. Liu Zhongmin, a scholar at Shanghai International Studies University, blamed the situation on Trump’s transactional Middle East approach, suggesting it has eroded US credibility in the region.
🌐 China's Peace Playbook
While publicly supporting de-escalation, China is leveraging the crisis to strengthen its soft power. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken to his counterparts across the Middle East, and China has offered to mediate peace negotiations — despite past mediation attempts yielding little.
Iran remains a critical node in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It also recently joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS — platforms challenging US-led global governance. Iran's strategic importance to Beijing is amplified by its access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for Chinese oil imports.
Both China and Russia are using the conflict to promote themselves as peace brokers while pointing to American militarism as the root of instability. Yet, observers remain skeptical about the tangible outcomes Beijing can deliver in conflict resolution.
© 2025 Majoris.cam | All rights reserved | #ChinaMiddleEast #IsraelIranCrisis #MajorisCam