America’s Loss Is China’s Gain? What US Involvement In Israel War Means For Beijing Explained

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 19:59 IST

US With Israel Vs China With Iran: With US and China on the opposite sides, how will the Israel-Iran impact the two superpowers? News18 explains

Amid the escalating tensions in the West Asia region, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that it was “too late" for Iran to restart negotiations. China, meanwhile, has expressed clear support for Iran in the ongoing West Asia conflict.

With US and China on the opposite sides, how will the Israel-Iran impact the two superpowers? News18 explains.

What did Trump say on Israel-Iran war on Tuesday?

Trump said that Iran’s leadership, along with its air defence, Air Force, and Navy are “gone".

“Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late’," the US President posted on Truth Social.

This comes as Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in an interview with ANI, said, “Iran is ready for negotiations but with dignity."

Meanwhile, Israel claimed that a senior commander was targeted through a strike in Iran, Al Jazeera reported. The Israeli Army didn’t provide further information on the outcome of the operation that was carried out recently.

Earlier, Fox News reported that Trump had sent an official letter to Congress about the US strikes against Iran, where he justified military action. In his letter, Trump said that the strikes were conducted at his direction on February 28 to protect US interests, ensuring free flow of maritime commerce via the Strait of Hormuz and for the collective self-defence of regional allies, including allies.

What is China’s stance on Israel-Iran war?

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Wang said China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and in upholding its lawful rights and interests.

China urged the US and Israel to immediately halt military operations, prevent further escalation, and stop the conflict from spreading across the Middle East

Many even feel that while Beijing has officially denied direct arms deals, it has played a role in Iran’s defensive rebuilding of air and missile defence in the face of the United States-Israel war.

China can exploit strategic vulnerabilities?

Analysts suggest that Trump’s intensified military focus on the Middle East—culminating in the February 28 joint U.S.-Israel strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—creates strategic vulnerabilities that China is positioned to exploit. While the “show of force" is intended to project strength, it risks overextending American resources and diverting attention from the Indo-Pacific, according to the Guardian assessment.

Resources: The ongoing conflict, dubbed ‘Operation Epic Fury’, requires a massive deployment of naval and air assets, including Carrier Strike Groups 3 and 12. This preoccupation leaves a vacuum in Asia, potentially allowing Beijing to accelerate its activities in the South China Sea or toward Taiwan.

Munitions Depletion: The U.S. is expending high-end interceptors and munitions in the Middle East. Analysts note that drawing down these stockpiles lowers the resources available for a potential contingency in the Pacific.

Supply Chain Leverage: China’s dominance in critical minerals like gallium, essential for high-tech U.S. defense systems, provides it with significant leverage. Beijing could restrict these supplies to hamper the U.S. ability to manufacture and repair the very weapons being used in the Middle East, said The Guardian report.

Diplomatic and Image Gains: Beijing is framing the U.S.-Israel strikes as “unacceptable" unilateral force. By positioning itself as a defender of international rules and the United Nations, China aims to boost its image in the Global South relative to Washington, say analysts.

Energy Security Buffers: Anticipating geopolitical shocks, China spent 2025 building massive oil stockpiles. This allows it to weather disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz or the loss of Iranian oil for several months, while the resulting price spikes could harm the U.S. economy, according to the report.

What may work for the US?

The strikes have severely weakened Iran and Venezuela—two of China’s primary sources of cheap, non-Western-aligned oil.

Some observers believe Trump may use the regional “chaos" as a position of strength to seek reciprocal gains or “unconventional humility" in upcoming meetings with Xi Jinping.

China remains the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil (roughly 13.4% of its sea-imported total in 2025), making it uniquely exposed to prolonged regional instability, according to reports in foreign media.

With ANI, agencies inputs

News explainers America’s Loss Is China’s Gain? What US Involvement In Israel War Means For Beijing Explained

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