The military actions in the Middle East are strengthening China's positions towards the US, at least in the short term, against the background of the expected, but postponed by several weeks at this point, meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, experts reported to Agence France-Presse, BTA reports.
The military actions in the region have shifted the preparations for the meeting, which was expected to have significant consequences. Its postponement at the request of the US, explained by changing arguments, did not surprise the Chinese side. Initially planned for the period March 31 - April 2, the meeting will take place “in about five-six weeks”, Trump said, postponing it to the end of April.
In Beijing, some citizens are accepting the situation with some skepticism. A 50-year-old IT specialist commented that Trump “changes his mind every day“ and that “he cannot be trusted”, while expressing hope that the meeting could lead to a warming of relations between the two countries.
Chinese authorities have maintained a restrained tone about the postponement of the visit, including when Trump linked its date to possible Chinese help in resuming traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The expected meeting is seen as an opportunity to continue the process of détente that began in October in South Korea, when the two presidents reached a temporary truce in the trade confrontation after Trump returned to the White House. The conflict has already had a serious impact on China, despite a record trade surplus in 2025, with exports to the United States falling by about 20 percent.
Beijing is seeking to avoid a new trade confrontation as the US administration considers new tariffs after the Supreme Court overturned the already imposed comprehensive tariffs.
New situation
The war in the Middle East creates new conditions for the upcoming meeting, and its impact on the talks remains unclear, especially given the unknown duration of the conflict. Analysts warn against expecting too high results and point out that the current situation temporarily strengthens the positions of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
They also emphasize that it is not in China's interest for the war to continue for a long time.
At the same time, the conflict is engaging the attention of the United States. Donald Trump will have to focus on managing the crisis, which could have implications for domestic politics and the country's economy, including the midterm elections for Congress in November, said Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai-based Fudan University.
“What was supposed to be a show of force by the United States to intimidate Beijing has instead shattered the illusion of its omnipotence,“ said analyst Ali Wine of the non-governmental organization “International Crisis Group“.
“Washington now needs its main strategic competitor to help it deal with a crisis that it itself provoked,“ he noted.
The US administration is meanwhile considering easing some of the sanctions on Iranian oil to limit price pressure. This could be a boon for China, analysts say.
According to data from shipping tracking company Kpler, China received more than 80 percent of Iran's oil exports in 2025. Beijing could use this resource on international markets, and in return, experts say, it could put pressure on Iran. China also has another powerful tool at its disposal if the conflict continues - its leading position in rare earth elements, which are key to the production of military equipment and advanced technologies, reports Jason Bedford, a researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.
No winner
Some of these raw materials are essential for the defense industry, and strong demand in the United States and limited supply give China a possible advantage, as Beijing could “paralyze the production of new weapons“, reports Jason Bedford.
At the same time, a war in the Persian Gulf could divert US attention and resources from the strategic Pacific region for Washington.
However, Beijing is aware that a prolonged conflict also carries significant risks. “There are no winners in wars that drag on“, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, quoted by Xinhua.
“China's main economic interest in the region is stability. (The war) poses a major problem not only for China's energy imports but also for China's exports of electric vehicles and green technologies,“ said Henry Tugendhat, an expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
While China has sufficient domestic oil reserves and is prepared for such scenarios, it has no control over the global consequences of the war, which could affect key markets such as Europe, which receives a significant share of the Asian country's goods, Henry Tugendhat warned.