Thinking About China
Opinion

US–Israel Strikes on Iran Expose China’s Strategic Limits

US–Israel Strikes on Iran Expose China’s Strategic Limits
A smoke risies after a strike on the Iranian capital of Tehran on March 5, 2026. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
Antonio Graceffo
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Commentary

U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran are exposing the limits of China’s support for its strategic partner, leaving Beijing vulnerable to economic and political losses while revealing its inability to counter U.S. power in the region.

Antonio Graceffo
Antonio Graceffo
Author
Antonio Graceffo, Ph.D., is a China economy analyst who has spent more than 20 years in Asia. Graceffo is a graduate of the Shanghai University of Sport, holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and studied national security at American Military University.