The United States’ Blockade in the Strait of Hormuz Condemned by Xi Jinping
Florence LO / AFP
Xi Jinping has condemned the dangerous and irresponsible behavior of the United States. China is gradually emerging from the shadows regarding the current war in Iran by denouncing the American blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. “We cannot allow the world to return to the law of the jungle,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said, calling on Tuesday, April 14, for a “global and lasting ceasefire.” He had so far refrained from too accusatory public comments, but behind the scenes, Chinese authorities are playing a high-stakes game.
Not very visible on the military front but very present in economic and diplomatic balances, Beijing is establishing itself as an indispensable interlocutor. The country has the trust of Iran and seems to have found a balance with the United States, which puts it in a strong position. It is precisely China that pushed the Iranians to the negotiating table.
“China’s role will remain essential to conclude any final peace agreement as the ultimate guarantor, since Iran does not trust the Trump-Netanyahu duo,” said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, former senator and chairman of the defense and foreign affairs committees in the upper house of Pakistan, where the first unsuccessful negotiations were organized.
Iran, an Essential Trading Partner for China
The role of China in the Iranian crisis is primarily explained by the economic relations between the two countries. Beijing is now one of Iran’s main trading partners, especially in the energy sector. China was the recipient of over 80% of Iranian oil exports in 2025. Conversely, Iranian oil accounts for about 13% of China’s oil imports by sea, according to the specialized firm Kpler.
Any instability in Iran thus has direct consequences on Chinese energy supply, prompting the country to wish for a quick return to calm. “China is a strategic and opportunistic country trying to benefit from the situation,” said Philippe Le Corre, a professor at Essec and researcher at the Asia Society Policy Institute, to Le Figaro.
To continue this trade with Iran, China needs, in addition to the stability it now demands, a trusted interlocutor with whom it has been negotiating for several years: the Islamic regime in power. “If a pro-Western regime came to power in Iran, it would take some time for the Chinese to regain their diplomatic footing with this new Iranian regime,” said Philippe Le Corre.
China’s Global Influence Ambitions
If China has various interests in Iran, and more broadly in the Middle East, it must adopt a measured posture. If it were too critical of the United States, it could impede or delay the organization of the highly anticipated Sino-American summit. Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, who were supposed to meet at the end of March, are now scheduled to meet on May 14 and 15. A meeting intended to “revitalize relations” and “extend the commercial truce” as relations between the two countries remain tense.
But through this mediating role with a very diplomatic posture, China has many other ambitions. In addition to its commercial imperatives, Beijing intends to establish itself as a key interlocutor on the international stage. “This is an opportunity that China will not miss to demonstrate its leadership and diplomatic initiative,” said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, in The Washington Post.
This posture allows China to present itself as a power committed to international stability, in contrast to the more interventionist approaches of other actors. “Their message is as follows: if Washington is reckless, aggressive, and indifferent to the consequences for others, China is a champion of responsible peace guided by principles,” said Danny Russell, former American diplomat and distinguished researcher at the Asia Society Policy Institute, in the American journal. “Its interest is to challenge what it considers to be American hegemony,” added Philippe Le Corre.
This diplomacy seems to already have an audience, starting with the Spanish Prime Minister. On Tuesday, April 14, while he was on a visit to China, Pedro Sanchez called for greater involvement of the country in the world order and in resolving the major conflicts currently shaking the world.
