China is silent on the Middle East crisis. It has a new friend to appease

Despite China successfullybrokeringtheSaudi Arabia-Iran dealin 2023, doubts persist about its efficacy in ongoing conflicts..

While China has actively positioned itself as a mediator for peace, particularly in the Middle East, where it seeks to diminish US influence, its ambitions face impediments, occasionally diverging from its stated goals..

Prioritising the preservation of existing peace deals emerges as a cautious approach compared to embarking on intricate negotiations within a region where Chinas influence is limited among numerous stakeholders..

Nonetheless, perceptions of Chinas limited influence and its reluctance to intervene vary among Chinese social media users.OneWeibo user(with over 2 million followers) highlighted the irony ofUS Secretary of StateAntony Blinkenurging China to leverage its influence on Iran for de-escalation whileWashingtonconcurrently stirs tensions between the Philippines and China...

This stance underscores Chinas cautious approach and prioritisation of its own interests, implying that assuming the role of a responsible power or even a mediator, particularly in the Middle East, is currently on the back burner...