Why it’s in China’s interests to keep out of the Iran war

The day the US and Israel attacked Iran, China waited several hours before taking its first official position. It said it was “highly concerned” and called for an immediate halt to military operations and the resumption of dialogue.
The timing mattered. In fast-moving conflicts, major powers often issue statements within minutes. Beijing’s pause signalled caution — a desire to assess the scale of the strikes, Washington’s objectives, and Tehran’s likely response before committing to language that could box it in diplomatically.