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China-Iran relations

China-Iran relations
The relationship between China and Iran has become a point of friction in Beijing’s diplomacy with Washington, which has had Tehran under sanctions for decades. In 2021, the Iran-China 25-year Cooperation Programme saw the two countries formalise their economic, military and security partnerships.
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (right) urged all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “at the earliest opportunity”. Photo: Xinhua
China-Middle East relations

China affirms support for Iran, but warns against Yemen spillover

In talks with his Iranian counterpart in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Tehran and Washington to stay rational.

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US-China relations

Huawei racketeering trial in US enters second day of testimony

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US-China relations

Huawei goes on trial in US for racketeering after nearly decade of litigation

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Malaysia

Will Malaysia’s potential Huawei AI deal risk clash with US trade pact?

The reported move, tied to a US$494 million sovereign AI project, underscores Kuala Lumpur’s superpower balancing act.

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The logo of Huawei Technologies is seen on the facade of a building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

Editorial | Don’t let Iran sanctions derail US-China engagement

The US push to isolate Iran economically puts Beijing in the crosshairs. Ahead of Xi Jinping’s state visit, both sides must contain the fallout to protect vital broader ties.

PetroChina

PetroChina’s first-half profit jumps 22% despite Iran war oil supply crunch

As LNG and EV adoption bite into traditional fuel sales, higher global crude prices help the state-backed giant deliver strong earnings.

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China-Middle East relations

China’s Middle East policy at a crossroads 6 months into US-Israeli war on Iran

Gulf states are rethinking their strategy after coming under attack, but observers say Beijing does not want to commit itself too deeply.

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Smoke billows over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City, following an Iranian strike in June. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

US visa interviews on hold; China slams fresh sanctions over Iran: 7 highlights

From catastrophic flash floods at the China-Nepal border to a sacked Malaysian academic, here are top stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

China-Middle East relations

Open Questions | Iran expert on China’s balancing act amid conflict with US and Israel

Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute says Beijing was wise to stay out of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which he believes could spark up again.

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US, Israel war on Iran

China and Iran sanctions: Beijing’s red lines and retaliation options

Washington’s new measures seen testing a recent bilateral detente with Beijing, and room for escalation remains, threatening trade, payments and supply chains.

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US President Donald Trump (right) walks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 15. Photo: Evan Vucci/Pool via AP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

China vows payback for US Iran sanctions, testing stability ahead of summit

Beijing warns economic pressure will fail; semi-official Track 1.5 dialogue targets risk control before Chinese president visits US.

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As the US imposed fresh sanctions on Chinese entities, US Treasury said it had “mapped the networks, facilitators and financial channels that Iran uses to smuggle oil, evade sanctions and fund terror”. Photo: Xinhua
US-China trade war

How will US ‘D-Day’ threat against Iranian economy impact China’s oil supply?

As northern hemisphere prepares for winter, analysts say latest US sanctions would not deter China from purchasing Iranian oil.

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US, Israel war on Iran

US pulls China punches in Iran ‘economic D-Day’ sanctions

US measures targeting Iran-linked companies exclude major Chinese ones, probably to avoid the risk of jeopardising the fragile bilateral trade truce.

China-Middle East relations

China’s J-16s face off against Egypt’s Rafales in combat drills as Iran war rumbles on

PLA pilots test strategic reach in 6,000km mission as Middle East conflict pushes Cairo and Beijing closer.

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Chinese fighter jets have returned to Egypt for combat training with their Egyptian counterparts in a joint exercise. Photo: CCTV
US, Israel war on Iran

China vows to safeguard interests after ‘Economic D-Day’ sanctions over Iran ties

Washington warns Iran-linked entities face removal from US dollar system as Trump presses world leaders to cut financial ties.

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Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for China’s energy supplies. Photo: Reuters
China-Middle East relations

China and Jordan call for Strait of Hormuz to get back to normal

The two sides also criticised Israel’s ‘dangerous escalatory actions’ following King Abdullah’s meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

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US-China relations

US pushes China to back its ‘most crushing economic operation’ against Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Beijing to ‘get with the programme’ and support Washington’s campaign to isolate Iran economically.

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Iran

Iran truce drives spike in China’s oil imports, but soaring Brent clouds demand

Purchases from the Gulf accounted for 27.6 per cent of China’s total crude imports in July, up over 10 percentage points from the month before.

Oil tanks are seen at a Sinopec oil and LNG storage base in Longkou, in eastern China's Shandong province, on August 2, 2026. Photo: CN-STR/AFP
Science

China is sending scientists to Iran for rare earth ‘exploration and processing’

Chinese and Iranian natural science foundations include the strategically sensitive metals in this year’s joint workshop programme.

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US-China relations

US sanctions Mahan Air’s China network over alleged support for Iran’s IRGC

Two Shanghai companies and a Chinese executive targeted as Washington expands pressure campaign from Iranian oil to aviation and cargo.

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US-China relations

US sanctions mainland China, Hong Kong firms over Iranian oil shipments

Six targeted tankers allegedly carried crude to China as Washington links economic campaign to US Navy enforcement.

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The Mozambique-flagged tanker Lily is owned and operated by Hong Kong-based Confident Apex Limited. Photo: Handout
US-Iran tensions

What can China learn from the US sea drone strike on an Iranian submarine base?

Experts highlight struggle for conventional systems to detect fast, low-visibility vessels after first combat use of the technology.

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A Corsair, a multipurpose unmanned surface vessel, has been used by the US military in its conflict with Iran. Photo: X.com/Saronic
China energy security

As Iran war drags on, China keeps tight grip on fuel exports despite eased curbs

Tight mandates remain in place to protect domestic energy security amid a resurgence of war in the Middle East.

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China economy

Opinion | China won’t waste its reserves to cushion oil price impact of Iran war

On the contrary, conserving strategic reserves and letting prices spike in the short term may bring long-term benefits.

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China energy security

China ramps up output of ‘industrial gold’ ethylene amid Iran war disruptions

PetroChina’s Xinjiang hub shifts output to the western interior region to rebalance coastal-heavy sector and hit green goals as Middle East conflict flares.

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A PetroChina logo at a petrol station in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

China, elections and Iran: the takeaways from Trump’s White House address

The US president blends domestic and global politics by accusing Beijing of meddling in the American electoral process.

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US President Donald Trump’s launches unprecedented accusations against China from the White House. Photo: EPA
China trade

China issues temporary helium export ban as Iran war strains global supplies

The ban on shipments of the gas, a crucial raw material in semiconductors and other sectors, comes as Middle East conflict strains global supplies.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Trump declares Iran ceasefire ‘over’, China calls for de-escalation

‘I don’t want to deal with them any more,’ US president says on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey.

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