https://apnews.com/article/china-pakistan-iran-war-diplomacy-5032adf869db373558775db0e030f18c
The article shows how China has stepped up its diplomacy on the Iran war, putting forward a five-point proposal with Pakistan, rallying support from Gulf countries, and opposing a United Nations proposal to use force to open the Strait of Hormuz. The plan includes a call for an immediate ceasefire, a halt to attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the proposal has been met with skepticism from opposing powers. Former US diplomat Danny Russel described China’s diplomacy as “performative,” comparing the five-point proposal to China’s 12-point Ukraine plan in 2023, which was filled with vague appeals but never any action. The Trump administration’s position has been uncertain, neither endorsing nor rejecting the plan.
China’s move here is more about optics than actual solutions. Beijing sees the Iran war as an opportunity to position itself as a responsible global leader while the US is perceived as warmongering and violent. This mirrors China’s approach in Ukraine, where its peace proposals were similarly long on rhetoric and short on enforcement mechanisms. The real significance is in the vie for a shift in global governance, if China can actually claim the role of peacemaker in the Middle East, it undermines decades of US dominance in the region. The Iran war is also deeply tied to China’s economic interests, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts energy flows that China heavily depends on.
China will continue pushing its diplomacy as a soft power play, especially ahead of a potential Trump-Xi summit in May. Pakistan will work to position itself as a necessary regional mediator, leveraging ties with both Iran and the US. The US will likely remain disengaged unless Trump sees a personal win in endorsing or disavowing the plan. Iran may use the Chinese-Pakistani proposal as leverage in its own negotiations, accepting engagement while continuing to use the Strait as a bargaining chip.
This connects to Soft Power and Global Power Distribution. China is using the Iran crisis to project an image of responsible global leadership, a move to increase in soft power. It also connects to the concept of global power distribution as China is attempting to challenge the Unipolar global system which is headed by the US.