Behind China’s Abstention: The Calculus of Not Condemning Iran’s Gulf Strikes
China abstained from voting on UN Security Council Resolution 2817 in March 2026, which condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Jordan by a majority of 13 votes. China justified its abstention by stating that the proposed resolutions were unbalanced and failed to address the root causes of the conflict. It also cited its desire to avoid military escalation, protect its strategic and economic interests with Iran (as an ally against the West), and focus on diplomatic solutions rather than unilateral US sanctions. This Chinese stance, while seemingly neutral, reflects an embarrassment for Tehran and an attempt by China to avoid using its veto power. This is all part of China’s complex geopolitical balancing act, in which Beijing seeks to maintain relations with both sides while simultaneously condemning attacks on civilians and declaring its intention to strengthen communication with all parties to de-escalate the situation. The Security Council adopted Resolution 2817 with the support of 13 members, condemning Iranian strikes against Gulf targets. The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, considered this a victory for Gulf diplomacy and the right to self-defense. Despite abstaining from voting on Security Council Resolution 2817, which condemned the Iranian attacks against the Gulf, Beijing stressed the importance of the security of the Arabian Gulf and the necessity of returning to dialogue. The most prominent detail of the Chinese position in March 2026 was China’s abstention from condemning the Iranian strikes against the Gulf. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced its disapproval of targeting Gulf states and condemned the attacks on civilians and non-military targets. Regarding the reasons for China’s abstention, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, stated that China’s abstention stemmed from the fact that the draft resolution did not reflect the root causes of the conflict in a balanced manner and that Chinese proposals were not taken into consideration, while emphasizing China’s opposition to the continuation of Iranian attacks against Gulf states. .
Regarding China’s stance on the Iranian escalation against the Gulf states, China called for a ceasefire and de-escalation of military operations in the Middle East. It also expressed its opposition to the deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system, arguing that war serves no one’s interests. Beijing attempted to play a balancing diplomatic role, which can be explained by its refusal to abstain from the UN Security Council resolution condemning Iran. This stance reflects China’s geopolitical balance with Iran and its efforts to maintain stable and balanced relations with both the Gulf states and the West, not necessarily as an endorsement of Iran. As for the details and motivations behind China’s abstention from condemning the Iranian attacks on the Gulf states, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution, submitted by Bahrain, condemning the attacks and demanding their immediate cessation, deeming them a threat to peace and security. China’s policy of pragmatic neutrality explains its abstention from voting on the resolution. This stems from a desire to avoid taking a complete stance towards Tehran in the face of widespread international condemnation, while simultaneously trying to preserve its economic interests with the Gulf states. Beijing is also attempting to avoid using its veto power in the UN Security Council.
The main reasons for China’s refusal to explicitly condemn the Iranian attacks in the Gulf at the UN Security Council, and its decision to abstain from voting on the resolution, are related to its perception of the resolution’s imbalance. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong stated that the draft resolution condemning Iran in the Security Council did not take into account China’s proposals and lacked a comprehensive and balanced view of the causes of the conflict, particularly the targeting of Iranian sites by other parties. China believes that international resolutions often lack a comprehensive perspective and fail to consider the attacks suffered by Iran and the military strikes launched against it from US bases in the region and the Gulf. In addition to the importance of China’s strategic partnership with Iran, China is pursuing a cautious policy, considering Iran a strategic partner in important international blocs such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS. China adopts an approach that tends to support its allies politically, especially in the face of Western pressure. China prefers diplomacy to sanctions, consistently calling for the resumption of political dialogue and the resolution of disputes through diplomatic means. It rejects military solutions or collective sanctions, expressing concern that condemnations could escalate tensions rather than contain them.
Here, China prioritizes maintaining its economic interests through the waterways and straits of Iran and the Middle East, such as the Strait of Hormuz. Although China’s interests in the Gulf are greater, it imports the majority of its oil from Iran and seeks to ensure the security of energy routes without taking absolute sides, relying on its role as a political savior. Furthermore, there is an ideological alignment between China and Iran’s visions of international civilizations, meaning there is an implicit ideological convergence between China and Iran as an Eastern civilization resentful of Western and American hegemony. At the same time, China seeks to avoid American escalation, preferring to express concern and call for dialogue rather than adopt military actions that could increase US influence in the region.
Based on the preceding analysis and understanding, we can see that China’s reasons for refraining from explicitly condemning the Iranian attacks in the Security Council stem from a Chinese geostrategic vision aimed at achieving balance in the region. Beijing considered Western and American draft resolutions unbalanced and ignoring the targeting of Iranian sites by other parties. It emphasized the need for a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the conflict to ensure overall stability, rather than mere political condemnation. Generally, official Chinese statements reflect a rejection of the escalation of Iranian military attacks on Gulf states, but this stance is limited to diplomatic channels, without providing on-the-ground military support to the Gulf, in order to protect all of its strategic partners.