Beijing’s military asserts that the gravest peril stems from internal betrayal, and “blind trust in peace” might amount to the “most expensive miscalculation”
China’s armed forces have set forth five strategic takeaways they claim are gleaned from the US-Israeli assault on Iran, cautioning against “blind faith in peace” and excessive dependence on external powers.
China Military Bugle—the official press account of China’s armed forces—released a bilingual graphic on X on Tuesday with a commentary on the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which targeted government, military, and nuclear facilities across the country. The strikes also killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top Iranian commanders in Tehran, triggering Iranian retaliation against Israel and US military bases across the Gulf.
The account laid out five key takeaways. First, it labeled internal betrayal the “deadliest threat,” in an apparent reference to recent anti-government protests in Iran, which Tehran claimed had been fueled by the US and Israel. In addition, the Financial Times reported earlier this week that Khamenei’s assassination became a possibility after Israeli intelligence managed to hack nearly all the CCTV cameras in Tehran.
Second, the post called “blind faith in peace” the “costliest miscalculation.” Third came the “coldest reality”: that superior firepower “often dictates outcomes.”
Fourth, the post warned against the “illusion of victory,” in an apparent reference to the long-term blowback seen after US interventions in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.
Fifth, it declared “self-reliance” the only true guarantee of sovereignty.
China has firmly condemned the US-Israeli strikes as “unacceptable” and denounced what it described as the “blatant killing of a sovereign leader and the incitement of regime change.” Beijing has also called for an immediate halt to military operations and a swift return to diplomacy.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also made his concerns known to his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, telling him during a phone call that Iranian and US negotiators had made “significant progress” in the now-collapsed nuclear talks. He added that the negotiations were also addressing Israeli security concerns.
Beijing has also called on all sides to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz open. Several oil tankers in the area have been hit, and maritime traffic has plunged by around 70%. China buys more than 80% of Iran’s total oil output, according to various estimates.