China
Permanent UNSC member and Iran's largest oil customer; condemned the strikes while negotiating its own Hormuz transit deal.
Last refreshed: 28 March 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics
China condemned the Iran strikes, then quietly negotiated its own oil deal. What does Beijing actually want?
Latest on China
- Is China buying Iranian oil during the war?
- Yes. 11.7 million barrels of Iranian oil have shipped to China since 28 February 2026, all through the Strait of Hormuz under bilateral transit arrangements.Source: TankerTrackers
- Did China veto the UN resolution on Iran?
- No. Beijing abstained on UNSC Resolution 2817 condemning Iran's Gulf attacks, rather than vetoing it or voting in favour.
- How much oil does China import through Hormuz?
- Roughly 50% of China's crude imports transit the Strait of Hormuz. China is one of five countries negotiating bilateral passage through the IRGC's toll system.Source: event
- Did Trump threaten China over the Iran war?
- Yes. Trump threatened to delay his summit with Xi Jinping unless China helps secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz.Source: event
- Are China and Iran military allies?
- Not formally, but Chinese, Russian and Iranian naval forces conducted joint Maritime Security Belt exercises in the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict.Source: event
- What is China's position on the Iran war?
- Beijing condemned the US-Israeli strikes as illegal but has not taken direct action. It abstained on the UN resolution and is negotiating its own bilateral oil transit through Hormuz.
Background
Beijing abstained on UNSC Resolution 2817 condemning Iran's Gulf attacks rather than vetoing it, signalling unwillingness to defend Iranian retaliation while refusing to endorse a one-sided condemnation. Trump threatened to delay his summit with Xi unless China helps secure Hormuz passage. Chinese, Russian and Iranian naval forces conducted joint exercises in the strait during the conflict.
China is a permanent UN Security Council member whose energy security depends on the Strait of Hormuz: roughly 50% of its crude imports transit the chokepoint. Beijing condemned the US-Israeli strikes as illegal, then quietly carved out protected economic corridors. It is one of five nations negotiating bilateral transit through the IRGC's Hormuz toll system. 11.7 million barrels of Iranian oil have shipped to China since 28 February, all through the strait.
China's role spans multiple active crises. In the Russia-Ukraine war, Beijing remains Moscow's most important economic partner, purchasing Russian oil and providing technology exports that sustain the war economy. In AI, China's five-year plan frames AI as an employment engine to offset 300 million retirements, even as economists warn job destruction precedes creation.
