Beijing has voiced its anger following the US and Israeli strikes against Iran and their impact, reaching the very top of the Iranian regime. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi deemed it “unacceptable” on Sunday, March 1, “to attack Iran in the midst of negotiations, and even more so to assassinate the leader of a sovereign country to provoke a regime change.” On Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the death of one of its nationals in Tehran. China has urged its citizens to evacuate Iran as quickly as possible.
By far the world’s largest oil importer, China purchases more than 11 million barrels a day from abroad and is directly exposed to any sudden halt in maritime traffic in the Middle East, threatening its supply. Roughly half of China’s oil, coming from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, passes through the Strait of Hormuz – currently blocked by Tehran – after leaving the Persian Gulf. Iran, which accounts for 13.4% of China’s seaborne oil imports, per maritime data firm Kpler, is also a key partner.
Beyond the risks to China’s energy supplies, the American offensive has destabilized another regime friendly to Beijing; the second in less than two months, following the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Among the guests at the massive military parade hosted by Xi Jinping on September 3, 2025, to mark 80 years since the end of World War II were Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: a display of an openly anti-Western front.
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