“While some Iranian experts were greatly disappointed by Beijing’s conduct, talking about a loss of China’s credibility, others were somewhat more understanding of the Chinese position, emphasizing both Beijing’s overall diplomatic caution and, more specifically, the limits of its strategic interests in Iran.
Against that background, the Iranian leadership has faced criticism for misunderstanding Beijing’s objectives, exaggerating Iran’s importance for China, and failing to transform the relationship beyond supplying discounted oil. Interestingly however, the sources we consulted suggest that the proposed remedy is not disengagement but rather a cautious doubling down of ties with Beijing.”
Theo Nencini and Veronica Turrini are authors of the issue “Iranian experts debate the future of the Iran-China relationship after the Twelve-Day War” of the ChinaMed Observer.
