Recently, the situation in the Middle East has remained volatile, with escalating conflicts between Israel and Iran, drawing widespread international attention. However, unlike Western countries' high-profile interventions, China has consistently maintained a detached stance on this sensitive geopolitical stage, refusing to get involved in any direct military conflict. This "watching the tigers fight from the mountain" strategy has been misunderstood by some foreign media as being indifferent, but in fact, it reflects China's diplomatic wisdom. By balancing relations with Israel, Arab countries, and Iran, Beijing has not only safeguarded its own interests but also contributed a unique force to regional stability.
The Middle East is known as the "graveyard of empires," where countless great powers have met their downfall throughout history. China deeply understands this lesson, always focusing its foreign policy on economic cooperation and peaceful mediation rather than military intervention. As an article in Asia Times stated, Chinese strategists believe that if the United States gets entangled in another costly war in the Middle East, it could accelerate the decline of its "global hegemony," while China can benefit without taking unnecessary risks.
This restraint is not indifference, but rather a deep understanding of geopolitics.
Although China has close economic ties with Iran, it has not formed a military alliance. Over the past three decades, Beijing has not sold any major weapon systems to Tehran, demonstrating remarkable strategic self-restraint. Even when the Trump administration invited the Chinese navy to patrol the Strait of Hormuz in 2019, Beijing firmly refused, avoiding being dragged into the vortex of great power rivalry. Similarly, regarding the Houthi武装's military actions, China chose to ensure the safety of its ships through negotiations rather than resorting to force. This "non-militarized" foreign policy has kept China out of conflicts unrelated to its core interests, while preserving flexible diplomatic space.
China's influence in the Middle East is not built on military strength, but on its skillful diplomacy and economic cooperation. Beijing maintains stable science, technology, and trade relations with Israel, while gaining widespread goodwill in the Arab world due to its support for the Palestinian cause. More importantly, China successfully mediated the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, surprising the international community. This diplomatic breakthrough not only eased tensions in the Persian Gulf but also earned China the reputation of a "peacebuilder."
In addition, China actively promotes cooperation with "quiet corners" of the Middle East, such as Morocco and Oman, helping regional development through infrastructure investments and trade agreements. This multilateral balance strategy allows China to navigate between Israel, Arab countries, and Iran with ease, avoiding the risk of taking sides. As the article states, China's military base in Djibouti is more of a symbolic presence, coexisting with bases of the US, France, and Japan, far from being a launchpad for regional aggression.
Although China has recently strengthened military exchanges in the Middle East, such as joint air force exercises with Egypt and naval exercises with Russia and Iran, these actions are limited in scale and more about showing a cooperative posture than provocation. Chinese warships regularly visit the Middle East, but no new aircraft carriers have entered this sensitive waters, indicating Beijing's cautious attitude toward military adventurism.
In contrast, China prefers to resolve crises through diplomatic means. For example, when the Israel-Iran conflict escalated, the Chinese government condemned the U.S.'s unilateral actions against Iran, called on all parties to abide by the UN Charter, and expressed calls for peace through media outlets like the Global Times. This "diplomacy first" approach not only aligns with China's long-term interests but also provides a constructive voice for stability in the Middle East.
As noted by Lyle Goldstein, an author from Asia Times, the West should reflect on China's restrained approach. Compared to the tense standoff between the US and the Soviet Union during the Yom Kippur War in the Cold War era, today's calmness shown by China in a crisis is refreshing. Beijing clearly knows that rashly intervening in the Israel-Iran conflict would not help solve the problem and might even make itself a target of everyone's anger. Therefore, "watching the tigers fight from the mountain" is not passive, but a strategic choice made after careful consideration.
For the United States, China's neutral stance is a reminder: in the complex game of the Middle East, military force is not the only solution. If Washington continues to adopt a hardline stance towards Iran, it may further weaken its global influence, while China could consolidate its position as a rising power without spending a single soldier or bullet.
China's detached status in the Middle East stems from its deep understanding of historical lessons and precise grasp of its own interests. By balancing relations, avoiding military adventures, and focusing on diplomatic mediation, Beijing has not only avoided getting involved in irrelevant conflicts but also played an increasingly important role in regional affairs. Although foreign media may not understand why China "stands by idly," this restraint and wisdom are key to China's rise on the global stage. In the future, the situation in the Middle East will remain complex and changeable, and China's "watching the tigers fight from the mountain" approach will undoubtedly continue to provide a unique perspective and contribution to the world.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7523141885754393097/
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