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China-Middle East relations

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China-Middle East relations
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China-Middle East relations. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Open Questions series

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
A mass funeral ceremony is held on Tuesday for students and staff members killed in a US-Israeli attack on a school in Minab, southern Iran. Civilian deaths have caused particular outrage among people in China. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
US, Israel war on Iran

Iran thanks Chinese public after US-Israeli air strikes prompt wave of sympathy

Embassy in Beijing says Iran sincerely grateful to ‘the civilised and righteous Chinese people’ but financial aid not needed for now.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Open Questions | Iran war’s impact on China limited, scholar Pan Guang says

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Mainland China

Why China is staying on the sidelines of the US-Iran conflict

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Israel

China urges Israel to end war in Iran as regional tensions escalate

Beijing says US-Israeli strikes were in bad faith and calls for an immediate halt, a return to talks and opposition to unilateral action.

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Smoke rises following an explosion in Tehran on Tuesday following air strikes by Israel and the US. Photo: WANA via Reuters
Middle East

How will China adjust Israel ties as US-led strikes on Iran reshape Middle East?

Beijing is unlikely to abandon ‘balanced diplomacy’ in the region despite killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, analysts say.

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China trade

Not just oil: Iran war disrupts China’s imports of key industrial material

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking off China’s imports of methanol – a vital input for the country’s industrial sector.

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Two Sessions 2026

Will Iran feature in foreign policy talks at China’s ‘two sessions’?

The focus is on economics and the five-year plan but the turmoil could prompt a rethink in some areas, analysts say.

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The Iran crisis is most likely to be discussed with other conflicts such as the Ukraine war rather than be singled out for special mention at this year’s “two sessions”. Photo: EPA
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says Iran war could last a month or longer as conflict widens

Trump administration says the ‘hardest hits are yet to come’ for Iran, as Tehran and its allies hit back across the region.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Why the US-Israel war with Iran leaves Asian economies exposed

Mainland China imports vast amounts of oil from the Middle East but India, South Korea and others could fare worse, analysts say.

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China energy security

Why the Iran war will accelerate China’s push to become an ‘energy powerhouse’

The conflict does not pose an immediate threat to China’s oil supply, but will spur on the country’s energy security drive, analysts say.

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Smoke plumes rise above Tehran following missile strikes on March 1. The growing conflict in the Middle East is likely to accelerate China’s energy security drive, analysts say. Photo: AFP
US-Iran tensions

Iran attack a ‘wake-up call’ for China on electronic warfare and intelligence

Retired PLA colonel urges China to watch out for ‘internal infiltration and intelligence leaks’ and boost ‘security around critical targets’.

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An image taken from Israeli military footage shows what it says are large-scale strikes on “the headquarters of the Iranian terror regime” in Tehran on March 1. Photo: Handout
US, Israel war on Iran

3 US troops killed in Iran war, Trump warns more could come

The US president vows to ‘avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow’.

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War and conflict

Opinion | US-Israeli strike on Iran signals new phase of global escalation

This is deterrence fatigue: escalation thresholds weakened by repeated testing and retaliation. The risk is not only war but systemic strain.

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Middle East

Trump urges Iranians to overthrow government after US-Israel strikes

US bases in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain under attack by Revolutionary Guard, according to Iranian media outlet.

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Smoke rises in the Iranian capital Tehran following Israeli and US strikes on Saturday. Photo: WANA via Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Meet Habibi – the Chinese AI uniting 20 Arabic dialects in a Middle East first

Lead author says there are many differences between Arabic dialects and Modern Standard Arabic, which is used in official circumstances.

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Habibi, a model devised by a Chinese-led team, has “zero-shot” capability, meaning it can clone a dialect’s voice by using short reference audio, according to the researchers. Photo: Shutterstock
US-Iran tensions

China warns citizens in Iran about security risks as nuclear talks end without deal

Embassy advisory issued on Saturday says Chinese in Iran should not photograph sensitive sites or restricted areas.

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Middle East

US presses Syria to shift from Chinese telecoms systems

Washington warned Damascus, which is considering buying Chinese telecoms technology, to buy from US or allied states.

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Iran

Is China flexing its intelligence muscle by tracking US military moves near Iran?

Unusually detailed posts by commercial firm MizarVision about America’s deployments in the Middle East are grabbing attention.

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The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford docks at the Greek island of Crete on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Middle East

Opinion | How Saudi diplomacy is thwarting Trump’s desire for war with Iran

China helped broker a detente between Riyadh and Tehran in 2023, which has no doubt factored into Saudi Arabia’s stance on US-Iran tensions.

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Banking & finance

Hong Kong, UAE solidify financial links with regulatory ties, digital currency

Transaction volume under Project mBridge surged over 2,500-fold from the early 2022 pilot levels to more than US$55 billion by November 2025.

China's military weapons

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

Analysts note Chinese inroads in military UAV market but political challenges for its jet fighters at the World Defence Show.

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China exhibits models of J-10CE and J-35A fighter jets at the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Amber Wang
Israel

Israeli diplomat Aviv Ezra says ties with China must not be marred by ‘politics’

Highest level official to visit China since Gaza war highlights opportunities for China and Israel to advance ties as peace deal progresses.

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During a visit to China last week, Israeli diplomat Aviv Ezra said he was “very optimistic” about the future of bilateral ties with China. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Why has a Nato member reaffirmed its Brics ambitions? Its envoy elaborates

New Turkish ambassador Selcuk Unal says the country is seeking deeper ties with China while bridging Asia and Europe.

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US-China relations

USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Arabian Sea. So is a Chinese vessel

Research ship Dayang Yihao may have been sailing near the American warship, independent military observer says in a social media post.

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Palestinian Territories

Israel’s China envoy calls to deepen historical ties in rare media outreach

Eli Belotserkovsky’s article comes amid global buzz over Trump’s Board of Peace and months after closer media ties pledge with Xinhua head.

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Eli Belotserkovsky, Israel’s ambassador to China, has written a Chinese-language article for state news agency Xinhua. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

Why China is playing the long game in Iran despite Trump’s fresh threats

Beijing is balancing vital energy interests with long-standing diplomatic principles and a cautious Middle East recalibration, analysts say.

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A giant banner hangs over Enghelab Square in central Tehran as Iran faces threats of US intervention following a brutal crackdown on nationwide economic protests. Photo: Xinhua
Diplomacy

Opinion | Why so many states reject bloc rivalry to choose partnership with China

It’s a calculated choice to keep growth, infrastructure momentum and policy space alive in a world that punishes the economically exposed.

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US-Iran tensions

China-led SCO warns against Iran ‘interference’ in veiled swipe at US

Security bloc expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘tragic events’ as Iran is rocked by protests, calls for ‘political and diplomatic’ resolution.

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