China’s Middle East Strategy: Condemn the Strikes, Study the Weapons

Chinese establishment commentators are coalescing around an 'active neutrality' approach: publicly condemn unilateral strikes and stress mediation, while selectively learning from displays of US military power and preparing contingencies should the conflict spill into great‑power competition. This signals willingness to reinterpret China's non‑interference norm into a pragmatic, conditionally engaged diplomatic role. — If adopted, 'active neutrality' would reshape China’s Middle East posture, influence how Beijing manages crises with the US, and offer a new model for how rising powers navigate wars between rivals.