DID Press: A new analysis by US-based journal Foreign Affairs argues that the war involving US and Iran failed to achieve Washington’s stated objectives and instead indirectly strengthened China, placing Beijing in a stronger position ahead of the upcoming meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
The report, titled “The Iran War Is a Win for China,” claims that the conflict weakened elements of U.S. military deterrence in East Asia, creating greater strategic space for China’s influence. It notes that the redeployment of American military assets from the Asia-Pacific to the Middle East has raised concerns among regional allies about the consistency of U.S. security commitments.
According to the analysis, China has also benefited from increased access to operational insights into U.S. military systems, including missile defense patterns and the use of artificial intelligence in combat operations—information that could prove significant in future scenarios involving Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea.
Economically, the report highlights China’s efforts to strengthen energy resilience through renewable expansion, coal capacity growth, and large-scale oil reserves, reducing its vulnerability to disruptions in critical maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The analysis also argues that regional tensions have exposed fractures between Washington and its Middle Eastern partners, allowing China to position itself as a more stable and cost-effective alternative.
Looking ahead, the report warns that Beijing may enter upcoming U.S.–China talks with leverage gained from these geopolitical shifts, potentially trading limited economic concessions for broader strategic advantages in technology and security policy.