From Beijing’s perspective, diplomacy is remarkably effective in advancing China’s regional interests and differentiating it from the US
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenWilliam FigueroaWilliam Figueroa is an assistant professor of history and theory of international relations at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where he researches Sino-Iranian relations. Published: 4:30pm, 21 Apr 2026China’s recent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East have led to speculation over whether its global strategy has shifted. There is consensus that China is stepping into a leadership role and trying to play peacemaker. Meanwhile, a few sceptics point out that the US-Israel war on Iran is not about China and has only exposed how thin Beijing’s influence is in the region.We’ve been here before.
In the last decade, with each moment of conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, from Syria to Libya to Palestine, China has urged a consistent response: a cessation of hostilities followed by immediate negotiations to reduce tensions, either in an international forum or mediated by China.
