As the Iran war escalates again, Gulf Arab states are looking to China – not Washington – to use its economic leverage over Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, testing how far Beijing is able and willing to pressurise Tehran.
The Gulf push for a bigger Chinese role is driven by growing frustration, Gulf sources say.
The war launched with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 has hurt their regional foe but also restricted their vital energy exports and, to varying degrees, put them in the firing line.
With Iran and its allies threatening the Bab el-Mandeb waterway in the Red Sea as well as Hormuz, Gulf states have sought Beijing’s help, conscious that the war has exposed the limits of American power, three regional sources say.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held dozens of calls and meetings with counterparts seeking a new ceasefire, while special envoy Zhai Jun has held talks in Gulf Arab capitals as well as Iran.
“China has maintained close communication with all parties, and has consistently worked to stop the fighting and promote peace,” its foreign ministry said in response to a request for comment.
China’s position as both a major buyer of oil from across the Gulf and Iran’s biggest trading partner presents opportunities but also sensitivities.
“There’s huge respect between the Gulf and China and they are a big trading partner, so any issue is raised in a very quiet manner,” one Gulf source said.
Iran says it will maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, noting it was attacked during negotiations over the nuclear programme the U.S. and Israel have vowed to destroy.
Gulf governments ultimately hope that Beijing will steer Tehran toward a negotiated settlement, said the source, adding that China often moves slowly and cautiously.
But they are aware that a prolonged war may also serve China’s interest by piling pressure on the United States.
China has developed close trade and investment ties with the six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – since a Gulf-China summit in 2022. Another summit is planned this year in Riyadh but not yet confirmed.
But Beijing has refrained from publicly challenging Tehran’s threats to shipping, fuelling doubts about how far China is prepared to go to secure the Gulf and its exports.
“The Chinese are trying to be more involved, they are trying to be more helpful,” a second Gulf source said.
“But China has turned out not to be as influential as we thought – whether that is a lack of will or a lack of capacity is debatable. What seems to happen when America enters the fray is that superpower calculations dominate over everything else.”
Henry Tugendhat, a China specialist at the Washington Institute, told Reuters Beijing’s overriding priority is preserving relationships across the region rather than risking diplomatic fallout by openly siding with either camp.
Once Washington became directly involved, Beijing’s calculations extended beyond the Gulf itself to encompass its wider ties and rivalry with Washington.
