In response to the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, China has adopted a strategy of common security, or zero-sum security, a central concept in President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative. This concept is based on the principle that no country’s security should come at the expense of others’ security. Therefore, the deep-rooted causes of conflict must be addressed, global security governance improved, and joint efforts encouraged for lasting peace and stable development, as outlined in China’s Global Security Initiative document of February 2023. China opposes a US war against Iran and rejects the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, viewing these as rogue US actions that, from China’s perspective, contradict its global initiatives, such as common security instead of zero-sum security; the rule of international law instead of the legitimacy of force and the law of the jungle; civilized and humane dialogue instead of exclusion; and development and economic integration instead of destroying environments conducive to stability.
Chinese intelligence, military, political, security, and defense circles view the ongoing US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz not merely as a new military operation but as another link in a broader global trend of declining reliance on international institutions like the United Nations and international law and expanding the logic of unilateral power and US hegemonic policies. China categorically rejects these attacks on Iran, especially given the ongoing negotiations with Tehran mediated by Pakistan. Furthermore, China condemns this unacceptable US-Israeli challenge, which includes the public assassination of the leader of a sovereign state like Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the incitement to regime change. These actions are entirely unacceptable to China, as they violate international law and fundamental norms of international relations. This was echoed by Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who stated that the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz lacked a UN Security Council mandate and violated international law. However, she emphasized that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the Gulf states must also be respected.
Chinese strategic circles analyze that Iran’s ability to control maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is a significant geopolitical asset. It limits absolute US influence in the Gulf, ensures the free flow of trade and supply lines, and drains US military and economic power in the Middle East. The geopolitical and military crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has made China a pivotal player, as Beijing relies on supplies from the region’s ports to meet its energy needs, while Tehran uses the Strait as leverage to pressure Washington. This interdependence has prompted Beijing to continue securing and facilitating the passage of its tankers, defying the US blockade imposed to cripple the Iranian economy. Beijing has officially rejected the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, deeming it an irresponsible act. This Chinese policy was demonstrated when Chinese oil and petrochemical tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz, defying the military restrictions. China also acts as a counterbalance to Iran’s efforts to circumvent unilateral US sanctions. Economic, diplomatic, and technical support from China has enabled the Iranians to mitigate the effects of the blockade and secure revenue through complex maritime shipping networks and oil transport, thus maintaining the flow of supplies to China’s independent refineries. China leverages its purchasing power and its position as a major trading partner of Tehran to safeguard its interests amidst ongoing tensions.
China represents Iran’s economic lifeline and strategic shield, as Tehran relies on it to circumvent US sanctions through oil exports and the import of vital components. This support prevents the collapse of the Iranian economy and complicates Washington’s military options, since any full-scale escalation threatens Beijing’s interests in the Middle East. Accordingly, China provides technological and military support to Iran, with Chinese companies supplying vital components and technologies used in Iran’s missile and defense programs, making Tehran a regional power that is difficult to deter without significant cost. Furthermore, China provides diplomatic protection and a protective umbrella for its interests with Iran. Here, Beijing, under the 25-year Iran-China agreement, is working to integrate Tehran into its international alliances and form a front against US hegemony, using its veto power as leverage in the Security Council. Therefore, Beijing is closely monitoring Washington’s handling of the crisis, studying US military movements and tactics in the Strait of Hormuz to draw lessons for its future defense plans regarding Taiwan.
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For this reason, the Strait of Hormuz is a key geopolitical bargaining chip for China against the United States. Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles consider Tehran’s control of, or ability to disrupt, navigation in the Strait of Hormuz a powerful tool to counterbalance American influence in the Gulf, ensuring that supply lines remain open and protecting Chinese commercial interests. Thus, both China and Iran have adopted a strategy of breaking the American encirclement by controlling the Strait of Hormuz, as the strait represents a weak point in Washington’s strategy. Beijing has declared its refusal to comply with the blockade, allowing its tankers to continue transiting and securing supplies from ports in the region and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for Chinese national security, as Beijing relies on it to secure approximately 40% of its oil imports and 25% of its liquefied natural gas. This waterway constitutes a strategic bargaining chip against the US naval blockade. Its importance to China is evident in its role as a vital energy artery, through which approximately half of China’s seaborne oil supplies flow. This supports China’s economic growth and maintains the stability of its industries.
To safeguard its interests, China adopts a position of pragmatic neutrality, calling on both the US and Iran to exercise restraint and restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. China considers the US blockade a dangerous and irresponsible step, aiming to protect energy security and ensure the continued flow of Iranian oil, which Beijing relies on to guarantee freedom of navigation and reject the US sanctions against Iran. China condemns the US actions, deeming the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz a threat to its interests and those of the global economy, and demands the immediate resumption of normal transit to safeguard energy security. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery through which roughly a quarter of China’s gas imports and a third of its oil imports pass, making ensuring the continued flow of tankers a top priority. While China continues to purchase Iranian oil in defiance of US sanctions, benefiting from its 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement with Iran, it is adopting a cautious approach to mediation. Despite its close ties with Tehran and Washington’s calls for it to play a role, Beijing prefers to remain in a position of observation and diplomatic advocacy for peace, leaving the role of direct mediator to other parties, such as Pakistan.
