The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...
Category: Mideast
China Says German Plane Laser Claim ‘Inconsistent With Facts’
Beijing dismissed on Wednesday claims by Berlin that the Chinese military had directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea as "completely inconsistent with the facts". The foreign ministry in Berlin said on Tuesday that a German aircraft ...
Why Iran May Be Forced to Kneel: Chinese Commentator Analyzes the Post-war Power Play
A recent commentary from the WeChat public account “战略观察家 (Strategic Observer)” argues that despite Ayatollah Khamenei’s fiery speeches declaring victory and pledging never to surrender, Tehran could soon agree to major concessions under mounting American and Israeli pressure, including giving up its enriched uranium stockpile and ...
Israel May Strike Iran Again With Trump’s Backing, Driven by Politics Not Just Nuclear Weapons, Chinese Commentators Say
A Chinese military commentary argues that a renewed Israeli military strike on Iran is highly likely, especially in light of recent U.S. media reports. The piece suggests that Israel’s push toward conflict reflects not just strategic concerns over Iran’s nuclear program but also deep-rooted political troubles at ...
Berlin Says China Targeted German Plane With Laser Over Red Sea
Berlin on Tuesday said the Chinese military had targeted a laser at a German aircraft participating in an EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea. "Endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable," the foreign ministry ...
China’s Internet Shines a Light on the Hidden Struggles of Construction Workers in Israel
As the Israel-Iran conflict drags on, a typically overlooked workforce has suddenly entered the public eye: Chinese construction laborers in Israel. Despite its image as a high-tech nation, Israel relies heavily on foreign manual labor—especially in construction. Chinese workers, in particular, dominate skilled trades like tiling, carpentry, ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
What Next for China-Israel Ties After the Iran War
In the first few months of this year, it seemed that China's ties with Israel were on the mend after entering into a deep freeze following the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas. China had begun to soften some of its ...
Why Did the U.S. Bomb Iran? A Chinese Commentator Argues the Real Target Was Europe
An influential geo-political commentator on WeChat, Zhan Hao, offers a provocative interpretation of recent U.S. military actions in the Middle East. The article, titled “Unexpectedly, the biggest loser from the U.S. bombing of Iran is the European Union — it’s going to be drained dry in ...
China Forced to Regroup After Israel-Iran War
China is emerging from the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in a much weaker position. For years, Beijing counted on Tehran to serve as a bulwark against Washington. Today, though, that's no longer possible as the Iranian government and its proxies across ...
China Hosts Iranian, Russian Defense Ministers Against Backdrop of ‘Momentous Change’
China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending.
Trump Says China Can Continue to Buy Iranian Oil
China can continue to buy Iranian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, in what appeared to be relief for Tehran from sanctions that Washington has previously imposed to punish the trade. "China can now continue to purchase Oil from ...
Rubio Urges China to Persuade Iran Not to Close Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to use its influence with the Iranian government to discourage Tehran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway that an estimated 20% of the world's oil supply passes through. ...
U.S. Urges China to Keep Iran From Shutting Key Trade Route
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China Sunday to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. "I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them ...