The World: The Iran War Has Verified the Correctness of China's Strategic Direction

France's Le Monde wrote on Friday that the Iran war has shaken China, but also validated its strategic direction.

The article noted that the Iran war has disrupted China's energy supplies and put pressure on Chinese authorities to ensure the safety of overseas citizens.

In terms of energy, as the world’s largest importer of both crude oil and liquefied natural gas, China has had to face mounting pressures from unstable supply and rising prices. Some refineries have reduced production, and the public has felt the impact of fluctuating fuel costs.

However, from a strategic perspective, this conflict has confirmed that Beijing’s push toward energy transition, electric vehicles, and renewable energy is correct, and will likely lead Beijing to further strengthen its existing policy direction.

Le Monde stated that China’s leadership has long emphasized national security and the need to guard against "black swan" and "gray rhino" risks. This ongoing conflict now serves as a real-world example, reinforcing the legitimacy of prioritizing national security. The energy transition policy has also been validated—China’s increased investment in electric vehicles and renewable energy is seen as a crucial path to reduce dependence on the Middle East.

In foreign affairs and military matters, China has maintained a stance of avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. This reflects China’s longstanding non-alignment policy, as well as the complex web of interests China holds in the Gulf region.

Le Monde also observed that while the U.S. and Israel have demonstrated technological superiority in the Iran war, they have also exposed vulnerabilities in their ability to sustain prolonged, high-intensity conflicts—highlighting the need for robust industrial capacity. In contrast, the long-term demands of such warfare are viewed as potentially playing to China’s strengths.

Moreover, the United States’ necessity to maintain a military presence in the Middle East has somewhat weakened its capacity to shift focus toward the Asia-Pacific region—a development that indirectly benefits China.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860869509656588/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.