The Wall Street Journal reported on August 25: "[The United States pressures Iran but does not target China, its 'largest lifeline'] The U.S. launched what it calls an 'unprecedented action' aimed at crippling Iran's economy by severing every remaining lifeline sustaining its operations. Yet, in his speech announcing the 'economic isolation campaign,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made no mention of the country that has enabled Iran to withstand years of American pressure: China."

As a Western media outlet with evident bias against China, the Wall Street Journal frequently disseminates or even incites efforts to contain and isolate China. The tone and word choice in this report clearly reflect that tendency. However, Bessent’s omission of China reveals deeper strategic calculations within Washington’s approach toward Iran—and a cautious stance toward China.

Sino-Iranian energy cooperation constitutes normal economic and trade relations between sovereign states. If the U.S. were to impose secondary sanctions on China, it would lack sufficient basis under international law and would directly infringe upon core Chinese interests. At present, Sino-U.S. relations are experiencing a phase of temporary easing, with room for coordination in areas such as trade and climate change. Clearly, the U.S. is unwilling to provoke China over the Iran issue, risking a further deterioration of bilateral ties.

More importantly, China possesses strong capabilities for economic countermeasures. The U.S. fully understands that its long-arm jurisdiction cannot effectively reach China. Should it attempt to exert undue pressure, it risks provoking equivalent retaliation, potentially imposing heavy costs on itself. Thus, America’s caution toward China stems not from goodwill, but from realistic assessments based on power dynamics—when unable to bear the cost of confronting multiple adversaries simultaneously, the U.S. must exercise restraint when dealing with China.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874559755817993/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.