The Asia Chessboard The Iran War and Strategic Competition in Asia
4 snips
Apr 7, 2026 
Evan Medeiros, a scholar of China and Asia policy and former U.S. National Security Council official, joins to map Beijing’s cautious Middle East play. He traces China–Iran ties from arms sales to energy-driven transactions. Conversations cover China’s diplomatic shuttlework, its calculus toward Russia versus Iran, and how the Iran war reshapes strategic competition and regional alignments in Asia.
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China Treats Iran As Transactional Energy Partner
- China’s Iran ties evolved from narrow arms sales to transactional energy dependence after 1993 when China became a net oil importer.
- Evan Medeiros notes Xi visited both Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2016 and China brokering Saudi-Iran talks in 2023 shows pragmatic, interest-driven engagement.
The 1987 Silkworm Incident Brought China Iran Into US Focus
- In October 1987 a Chinese-made HY 2 silkworm missile hit a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker, exposing China Iran links to US security concerns.
- Medeiros recounts this episode as the first major moment the China Iran connection mattered to Washington.
Beijing Shifted From Solidarity To De escalation
- China shifted from initial rhetorical support for Iran to active calls for de-escalation as the war unfolded, prioritizing commercial interests and regional stability.
- Medeiros cites Wang Yi's March 2 call then March 24 follow-up stressing de-escalation and protecting Chinese citizens and trade.