China is stepping up its diplomacy in the Iran war, putting forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan, rallying support from Gulf countries and opposing a United Nations proposal to use any force necessary to open the Strait of Hormuz.
It is China’s latest push for a more prominent role in global affairs, though it may prove more rhetorical than substantive. The United States, in turn, has appeared disinterested in Beijing’s efforts.
“War with Iran is the priority of all countries inside and outside the region,” said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank. “It is an opportunity that China will not miss to demonstrate its leadership and diplomatic initiative.”
Continues after advertising
Danny Russel, a former senior US diplomat, described China’s diplomacy as “performative” and compared Iran’s five-point proposal to end the war with its 12-point plan for Ukraine in 2023, which was never implemented.
“Their narrative is that while Washington is reckless, aggressive and indifferent to the cost to others, China is a responsible and principled champion of peace,” said Russell, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
China has worked “tirelessly for peace” since the start of the war, said Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
*This content was translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence tools and reviewed by the editorial team of Estadão.
