For subscribers
Commentary
Why China chooses to stay on the sidelines
Even as Washington flexes its military power abroad, Beijing is choosing restraint – preserving flexibility, protecting its interests and avoiding a clash with the US.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Watching US President Donald Trump get bogged down by the Iran war and call for help is hardly a bad thing for China, which can claim more easily that it stands for stability while quietly tending its own interests, says the writer.
PHOTO: AFP
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
Anyone wondering why China has not rushed to Iran’s aid, did little when pressure mounted on Venezuela, and is unlikely to stick its neck out for Cuba, should adjust their expectations.
Beijing is not about to wade into someone else’s conflict. It has not done so in decades and when it last fought a war beyond its borders, in Vietnam in 1979, it was brief, punitive and close to home. Since then, China has been remarkably consistent: it does not fight other people’s wars.
