Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran caught even China by surprise. Chinese commentators adopted a cautious tone, emphasizing that it is still too early to assess the implications and outcomes of the events. Nonetheless, they noted that the move is likely to paralyze or derail efforts to reach an agreement with Iran.
The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also chose a restrained phrasing. Unlike China’s reaction to Israel’s previous strike in Iran—in October 2024—this time, the spokesperson avoided an explicit condemnation of Israel and its actions. Instead, He stated that “China is deeply concerned about Israel’s attacks against Iran and is deeply worried about the possible serious consequences of these actions.” The spokesperson also stressed that “China opposes any violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes actions that escalate tensions and broaden the conflict.”
If Tehran expected Beijing to offer it diplomatic or even practical support in these critical moments, China’s lukewarm response may indicate its desire to keep a distance from the events and avoid entanglement in the regional conflict. One of the reasons for this can be Beijing’s consistent opposition to Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons, which it views as a destabilizing factor that could harm China’s economic and strategic interests in the Middle East.
Another reason is China’s strategic and economic prioritization of its relations with key Arab countries—chief among them Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt—over strengthening ties with Iran. This balancing policy serves Beijing’s regional objectives and signals that it does not see itself as part of the Iranian axis. Furthermore, in light of initial signs of a desire to improve relations with Israel, China is cautious about adopting an anti-Israel position that could jeopardize this effort.
Therefore, China’s cautious response reflects a deliberate attempt to navigate between its commitment to the principles of its foreign policy and its desire to preserve strategic influence in the region—without being drawn into conflicts that could endanger the delicate balance it seeks to maintain among Tehran, Jerusalem, and the Arab states.
Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran caught even China by surprise. Chinese commentators adopted a cautious tone, emphasizing that it is still too early to assess the implications and outcomes of the events. Nonetheless, they noted that the move is likely to paralyze or derail efforts to reach an agreement with Iran.
The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also chose a restrained phrasing. Unlike China’s reaction to Israel’s previous strike in Iran—in October 2024—this time, the spokesperson avoided an explicit condemnation of Israel and its actions. Instead, He stated that “China is deeply concerned about Israel’s attacks against Iran and is deeply worried about the possible serious consequences of these actions.” The spokesperson also stressed that “China opposes any violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes actions that escalate tensions and broaden the conflict.”
If Tehran expected Beijing to offer it diplomatic or even practical support in these critical moments, China’s lukewarm response may indicate its desire to keep a distance from the events and avoid entanglement in the regional conflict. One of the reasons for this can be Beijing’s consistent opposition to Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons, which it views as a destabilizing factor that could harm China’s economic and strategic interests in the Middle East.
Another reason is China’s strategic and economic prioritization of its relations with key Arab countries—chief among them Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt—over strengthening ties with Iran. This balancing policy serves Beijing’s regional objectives and signals that it does not see itself as part of the Iranian axis. Furthermore, in light of initial signs of a desire to improve relations with Israel, China is cautious about adopting an anti-Israel position that could jeopardize this effort.
Therefore, China’s cautious response reflects a deliberate attempt to navigate between its commitment to the principles of its foreign policy and its desire to preserve strategic influence in the region—without being drawn into conflicts that could endanger the delicate balance it seeks to maintain among Tehran, Jerusalem, and the Arab states.