Is China 'hands-off' in Iran?

Smoke billowing after Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

ByJianxi Liu

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With bombs flying over Iran for 11 days, some Westerners have once again attempted to redirect public criticism toward China, accusing the country of adopting a "hands-off" approach to Tehran.

Such assertions, however, misread not only China's foreign policy but also the evolving realities of its regional engagement.

Earlier, China announced its decision to send Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue, to the region to help de-escalate tensions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had phone calls with his counterparts from Russia, Iran, Oman, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE for in-depth exchanges of views on the regional situation.

The notion of "hands-off" reflects a Western lens that equates influence with intervention. For decades, some Western powers have been adept at using sanctions, regime-change rhetoric and military presence to impose "solutions."

By contrast, China's foreign policy is underpinned by a different logic: respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and long-term partnership through economic and diplomatic channels. This does not mean Beijing is indifferent to the region's turmoil. Rather, it means China recognizes that durable stability cannot be imposed at gunpoint or through coercive diplomacy.

Unlike certain Western actors that often resort to sanctions and military operations for "solutions," Beijing's efforts emphasize quiet brokerage and multilateral coordination.

The historic China-brokered normalization between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 exemplifies this approach. Beijing's facilitation helped two regional rivals reopen embassies and resume dialogue after years of hostility. This achievement did not come from loud public pressure. This was not the work of a "hands-off" actor – it was a textbook case of decisive diplomacy.

In 2024, the historic Beijing Declaration, reached through China's mediation, saw major Palestinian groups pledge to pursue unity and coordinate efforts toward legitimate national representation. This underscored China's credibility as an honest broker, trusted across political divides and capable of convening rivals that Western mediators have long failed to bring together.

For decades, China has been working with regional countries in their post-war reconstruction and long-term development by teaching people how to fish rather than just giving them fish. For instance, Chinese peacekeepers have won applause from the Lebanese people for their efforts in carrying out mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, routine patrol missions and humanitarian assistance. In addition, via platforms such as the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and the China-Arab Summit, the Chinese government has been dedicated to building a community with a shared future.

China offers an alternative model of global governance – less confrontational, more inclusive and rooted in mutual respect. That same logic guides China's behavior amid the turmoil in Iran. When crises erupted, China has, on several occasions, called for restraint from all parties concerned and has promoted regional-led dialogue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, March 8, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

As Wang noted on Tuesday, China urges an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, supports efforts toward a political solution and supports Gulf countries in taking the region's future into their own hands.

Unlike Western overreach – military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan and now Iran, that have destabilized the entire region, China seeks balance, not domination. The key to preventing further escalation of the situation regarding Iran, as Wang noted on Tuesday, lies in the US and Israel halting their military operations.

China's approach to Iran is not fence-sitting as some critics argue. Its goal is to keep pathways open for engagement.

To respect sovereignty is to recognize that durable change must come from within. China does not lecture or dictate. When the Chinese government calls for dialogue amid tensions, it does so from a position of mutual respect, not moral superiority.

Force may seize resources and fear may create temporary deterrence, but in this multipolar world, true responsibility lies in creating spaces for countries to resolve differences without external domination. China's diplomacy, anchored in respect, dialogue and mutual development, reflects precisely that ethos.

China does not seek military alliances, bloc confrontation, or proxy wars in the Middle East. It has always encouraged peace talks, pursued practical cooperation and offered effective assistance. It is the countries in the Middle East that have the final say and judgment on whether China is a reliable partner or not.

The author Jianxi Liu is a Beijing-based analyst of political and international relations. With 10 years of experience in media, she writes on topics pertaining to the US, the EU, and the Middle East.