The war in the Middle East is exposing deeper tensions between the United States and China, particularly over control of global energy routes. As the Strait of Hormuz becomes a focal point, both powers are revealing sharply contrasting strategic priorities.
Washington has pushed for an international naval coalition to secure the passage, framing it as a shared global responsibility. Beijing, however, has adopted a more cautious stance, refusing to deploy warships and instead calling for an immediate halt to military operations.
China has extended emergency aid to Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq as the conflict worsens, while Beijing and Moscow have called for talks amid rising tensions.
Speaking to AnewZ, Andrew Leung, an international and independent China strategist, stressed Beijing’s position: “This war is not China’s war… China wants to keep the oil flowing, does not want the region destabilised, but it is not sufficient to coerce China into becoming involved.”
Leung noted that China’s energy imports are diversified and that Beijing prefers diplomacy and stability over military involvement. He also highlighted broader geopolitical calculations, arguing that China is focused on protecting its economic interests rather than aligning with U.S.-led military efforts.
Experts underline the long-standing complexities of bilateral ties, with one noting that “the relationship between the United States and China has had many ups and downs”, shaped by disputes over trade, technology and regional influence.
Professor Ivani Vassoler added that the conflict has also affected President Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, explaining that the trip was postponed because of “events in the Middle East, particularly the war on Iran”, illustrating how immediate crises intersect with long-term diplomatic priorities.
As the conflict continues, both countries are walking a fine line, balancing strategic interests, global responsibilities and the risks of deeper confrontation. The crisis is no longer just about the Middle East, but also reflects a broader power struggle between Washington and Beijing.
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China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Trade discussions between China and the U.S. are expected to remain virtual for now, with no major investment initiatives planned before a potential meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party used her first full day in mainland China to publicly pledge reconciliation, invoking the spirit of her party's founder, Sun Yat-sen, to call for unity whilst surprisingly praising the communist mainland’s developmental achievements.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
A train driver has died and several passengers have been injured after a high-speed train collided with an army lorry carrying military equipment at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday morning (7 April), the local prefecture and railway operators said in separate statements.
Israel launched its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since hostilities escalated last month, killing over 100 people, even as Hezbollah halted attacks under a disputed U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Türkiye aims to rank among the world’s top ten exporters of defence technology within the next two years.
As global attention centres on the conflict between Iran and the U.S., violence in Lebanon is intensifying, with Israeli strikes hitting residential areas, causing mounting civilian casualties and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Uzbekistan and the U.S. are preparing to launch a joint investment platform by the end of the year, alongside the creation of a new bilateral business council aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.
More than 94,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan since late February due to cross-border fighting, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said, while nearly 100,000 in Nuristan remain cut off from aid due to insecurity.
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