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As the conflict between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition continues to roil the Middle East, China has made its most explicit calls yet for the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a position that experts say underscores the growing strains in Beijing’s relationship with Tehran.

In a recent phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that the Strait of Hormuz “should remain open for normal passage, which aligns with the common interest of countries in the region and the international community,” as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and the state news agency Xinhua. This marks the first time Xi has publicly urged the reopening of the vital waterway, which has been repeatedly blockaded since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

Chinese officials have simultaneously stressed Beijing’s support for an “immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” and its commitment to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels, according to Xinhua’s account of the same call.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple reports from the South China Morning Post and TASS, the Russian state news agency, converge on the central narrative: China is walking a tightrope between its rhetorical solidarity with Iran and its deep economic and energy interests in the Gulf. The SCMP articles, which draw on expert analysis and official statements, highlight the careful wording of China’s demands—Xi did not name Iran or the United States in his public remarks, yet the subtext was clear. In contrast, TASS’s coverage focuses on the role of US intervention as the root cause of regional instability, quoting Chinese academics who argue that Washington’s interference is what perpetuates discord.

All five source articles agree on the basic facts: Xi’s call with the Saudi crown prince, the calls for a ceasefire, and the US-Israeli strikes as the trigger for the current crisis. However, a single-source claim—that the conflict is pushing Saudi Arabia to reconsider its US-led security strategy, with China playing a “limited, but functional” role—appears only in one SCMP analysis and is not yet independently corroborated.

Key Claims

  • China has begun to pressure Iran to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as evidenced by statements from President Xi Jinping and Ambassador Fu Cong. According to multiple sources, Xi told Saudi Arabia’s crown prince that the waterway “should remain open for normal passage,” while Fu, speaking at the UN, said Beijing “does not go along with Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.”
  • China advocates for an immediate ceasefire and supports all efforts to restore peace, as stated by Xi in the phone call and reiterated by Fu at the UN.
  • The Strait of Hormuz’s openness is framed as a common interest of regional and international actors, according to Xi’s statement.
  • US interference is the root cause of the Middle East’s problems, a claim made by Lanzhou University’s Zhu Yongbiao in comments carried by TASS and also echoed by other Chinese experts.
  • China’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not targeted at any third party and has broad prospects, as Zhu asserted.

Perspectives

China’s Diplomatic Balancing Act

Chinese officials and state-aligned experts portray Beijing as a responsible great power that upholds international law and seeks to restore peace, while distancing itself from Iran’s more destabilizing actions. Ambassador Fu’s condemnation of US-Israeli strikes as violations of the UN Charter, combined with his pointed rejection of Iran’s blockade, illustrates a delicate equilibrium. As one expert quoted in the SCMP noted, Beijing’s stance is “consistent and coherent” but increasingly tested by Iran’s behavior.

Saudi Arabia’s Security Recalc

Analysts in the SCMP articles suggest that the Iran conflict is pushing Riyadh to reassess its long-standing security partnership with the United States. China is emerging as a potential, albeit limited, alternative. The same analysis acknowledges that deep US defense ties will likely cap the scope of Saudi-China cooperation.

US Unilateralism and Coercion

Chinese diplomats and experts, as reported by SCMP and TASS, frame the crisis as a consequence of US “unilateralism” and “bullying practices.” Fu Cong’s remarks at the UN, which criticized US sanctions on Chinese vessels and firms, and Zhu Yongbiao’s claim that the US has “consistently attempted to sow discord” in the region, represent this viewpoint.

The Broader Geopolitical Stakes

The conflict has drawn in Chinese economic interests, as Washington has sanctioned Chinese companies suspected of funding Iran. While China’s role as UN Security Council president gives it a platform, Fu himself admitted that Beijing’s influence in ending the crisis is limited—a sentiment that underscores the broader geopolitical limits of its ties to Iran.