As the Iran war spreads, China steps in — but on whose side? | DW News
April 3, 2026
DW News
China is stepping up its diplomatic messaging as the Iran war enters its sixth week, calling for a ceasefire, warning of global economic risks, and blaming the United States and Israel for escalating tensions in the Gulf. With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure -- a key artery for global energy supplies -- the conflict is already pushing up fuel prices and straining supply chains worldwide.
So what does Beijing actually want? In this DW News analysis, we speak to Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Senior Fellow for China Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. She explains why China fears instability more than American power, how it views the conflict, and whether Beijing could benefit from Washington being distracted by war. Chapters: 0:00 Iran war escalates 0:45 China calls for ceasefire 1:11 Interview with Zongyuan Zoe Liu 1:53 How China views the war 3:39 Why instability threatens China 5:05 Can China benefit? 6:48 Best-case scenario for Beijing For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1 #china #iranwar #hormuz #dwnews
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