Israel-Iran conflict is latest test of China’s self-proclaimed neutrality

Israel’s war with Iran has escalated sharply, plunging the volatile Middle East into deeper turmoil in an era of rising conflicts.

Alongside Russia’s grinding invasion of Ukraine and Pakistan’s recent clash with India, the crises, compounded by tensions on the Korean peninsula as well as in the South China Sea and Taiwan, have placed Beijing in a precarious position.

Though not directly involved, Beijing is far from a mere bystander. Its close ties with Russia, Iran, Pakistan and North Korea position it uncomfortably near the centre of global tensions, challenging its self-proclaimed role as a neutral mediator, testing its ability to balance geopolitics with domestic priorities, and highlighting the complexities facing a rising superpower.

China, which remains Iran’s largest energy buyer, reacted swiftly to Israel’s air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets on Friday.

China’s UN ambassador, Fu Cong, echoed the stance at a UN Security Council meeting requested by Iran just hours after the strikes, which killed senior Iranian military officials and civilians. Along with Russia, he framed Israel as the aggressor, urging it to “immediately cease all military adventurism and avoid further escalating tensions”, while voicing support for Iran’s right to self-defence.

He did not mention Tehran’s nuclear advancements and its non-compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.

During calls with Iranian and Israeli foreign ministers the next day, top diplomat Wang Yi condemned the surprise attack as a “gross violation” of Iran’s sovereignty and a breach of the United Nations Charter, warning of the “dangerous precedent” it set for strikes on nuclear sites.

Amid the heightened tensions, China’s embassy in Israel issued a safety advisory on Monday, offering evacuation guidance to up to 3,000 Chinese nationals in the country. The Chinese mission in Iran had yet to take a similar step despite Iran’s involvement in the widening war.

South China Morning Post