XI SHOWS NO SIGN OF WANTING TO RESCUE IRAN

China reluctant to get involved in Middle East turmoil. By Bloomberg

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China was quick to condemn Israel after its assault against Iran. Yet President Xi Jinping has shown no sign of rushing to provide weapons and other support that would help Tehran face its most critical military test in decades.

Beijing has repeatedly issued warnings against escalation, calling again on Thursday for the US and other nations to embrace dialogue and “prevent the regional situation from sliding into the abyss.”

Despite that, China has yet to offer any material support to Iran beyond continuing its normal trading relationship, an approach it also took with Russia. While Mr Xi’s government has provided diplomatic support for Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and shipped dual-use goods to Moscow, China has also been careful not to directly provide weapons in order to avoid US sanctions. Beijing similarly urged de-escalation after its “ironclad friend” Pakistan and India engaged in their worst military confrontation in half a century.

“China may be offering economic relief and rhetorical support to Iran, but actual military intervention is not anywhere near the table yet,” said Wen-Ti Sung, non-resident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. “China does not want to risk getting entrapped by Iran's war with an Israel that has the Trump administration behind it.”