Zhao Minghao, Professor and Deputy Director at Center for American Studies at China’s Fudan University, stated bluntly, in an article published April 14 by Russia’s Valdai Discussion Club, that “Beijing is viewing the [Iran) war as a direct assault on its vital interests rather than as a distant crisis.” That was Zhao’s assessment before U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced, that same day, that the U.S. was launching “Operation Economic Fury” against China for its support for Iran. He elaborated:
“Beijing is viewing this war as a test of Washington’s long-term strategic intentions. The US has demonstrated its willingness to use high-intensity force to achieve regime change and control critical resources, signalling that it has not `retrenched’ from its global role….
“This conflict reflects a new strategy for maintaining US hegemony, and the military operation carries strategic considerations aimed at securing interests and containing rivals. The Trump administration’s strategy increasingly emphasizes control over global strategic chokepoints and resource hubs. Washington has not abandoned the pursuit of regime change but may be experimenting with lower-cost methods of exerting control over other states.
“By weakening Iran, a critical pillar of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the US is directly challenging China’s infrastructure and investment projects, such as the US$4 billion in FDI Beijing holds in Iranian equities. Since the beginning of this year, the Trump administration has used force against Venezuela and Iran, which are widely viewed as partners of China. In particular, both countries play critical roles in Beijing’s efforts to safeguard its energy security.
