Independent Thinking What lessons will China, India and other Asian nations draw from the Iran war?
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Apr 10, 2026 Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia at Chatham House, on South Asia’s heavy reliance on Gulf energy, remittances and Pakistan’s mediator role. Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow for China at Chatham House, on Beijing’s cautious calculus, economic fallout and strategic limits. They discuss fuel shortages, chokepoints like Hormuz, Taiwan Strait risks and whether Asian states will rethink supply chains and alliances.
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Why Pakistan Became A Mediator
- Pakistan stepped forward as a mediator because of geographic links, a large Shia population, historic Middle East ties, and hopes for status and material aid.
- Islamabad expects improved strategic standing, IMF support and deeper US or Gulf cooperation on Afghanistan.
Personal Ties Boost Pakistan's Access To US
- Personal ties between Pakistan's military leadership and Donald Trump have helped reset US-Pakistan relations and facilitated Islamabad's mediator role.
- Visits and channel access to key Trump officials translated into diplomatic leverage for Pakistan.
ASEAN Pushes Regional Energy Integration
- ASEAN responded quickly, urging more regional integration on energy and economic resilience as a shield against external shocks.
- Ben Bland noted ASEAN's statements create an opportunity to accelerate regional energy cooperation but warned implementation is difficult.