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

Gulf states are making a strategic pivot as the war in Iran drags on into its sixth month but observers warned that their shift towards self-reliant defence networks could test China’s “involvement without commitment” strategy in the region.

The war has forced Gulf leaders to face the reality that neither the United States nor China is able to protect them from attacks by Iran.

On Wednesday, the Iranian army warned that any “possible future war” with the US could spread across the region and...