What the Iran War Reveals About China’s Global Role

The war in Iran has reshaped the dynamics between the United States and China, delaying a planned summit between President Trump and President Xi and exposing competing priorities. Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns says Beijing is balancing its political ties to Iran with its deeper economic reliance on Gulf energy supplies, while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. As Washington and Beijing look ahead to renewed talks on trade, supply chains, and security, the episode highlights both the limits of China’s global influence and the broader competition between the two powers. (Source: Bloomberg)