Overview

• On June 19, Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin that China would play a constructive role in restoring Middle East peace but will not provide troops or direct military support to Iran.
• President Donald Trump has given Iran 14 days to return to nuclear negotiations or face potential US military strikes.
• China’s reliance on oil imports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz underpins its push for de-escalation in the region.
• Analysts contend that Beijing’s diplomatic influence in the Middle East remains limited and that it seeks to sidestep any conflict that could provoke the United States.
• Beijing is monitoring how the Iran-Israel clashes test US willingness to use force, insights that could influence China’s strategic calculations toward Taiwan.