“Although China has not been a central actor in this war, discussions about its role in the Arabic press often reveal more about observers’ expectations of what an alternative great power should do rather than about Chinese policies themselves. From those emphasizing Western narratives, Beijing appears ineffectual and marginal; from a Gulf-focused lens, it is broadly aligned with peace and regional stability; and from “resistance”-oriented narratives, it is supporting Iran militarily as part of a global struggle against U.S. hegemony.”
Francesca Daniele (ChinaMed Project, T.wai) is author of the issue “The Real Victor: The Arab Media Debate on China and the Iran War” of the ChinaMed Observer.
