China

April 18, 2026

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in Beijing on April 13, 2026.

China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing

China, which maintains close ties with both Iran and Gulf states, is hosting one of the UAE's top officials this week as a fragile ceasefire in the region holds.

China

As US blockades Hormuz, China urges restraint, rejects call to ditch Iran oil

Beijing and Ankara called for calm as the US began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as regional diplomacy over the fragile ceasefire intensifies.

Iran

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, speaks during a UN Security Council meeting regarding the situation in the Middle East on April 7, 2026, in New York City. A vote on a resolution in the Security Council introduced by Bahrain focusing on reopening the Strait of Hormuz failed after opposition from Russia and China. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Analysis

Sanctions relief, Pakistan role propel China backing of Iran-US ceasefire

The US–Iran truce boosts Pakistan — one of China’s closest partners — by elevating its role as a mediator and strengthening a regional balance that favors Beijing’s allies.

By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll

Latest News

Analysis

China plays peacemaker while letting US bleed in Iran

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Diaoytai State Guest House in Beijing, China, on March 31, 2026. — Pakistani Foreign Ministry

By Joyce Karam

China, Pakistan announce 5-point plan to end Iran war: What to know

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the Diaoytai State Guest House in Beijing, China, March 31, 2026.

Iran

Analysis

Five reasons China is in no rush to end Iran war

An aerial view shows a petrochemical plant in operation by the Yangtze River in Nanjing, in eastern China's Jiangsu province November 26, 2025. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images) / China OUT

By Joyce Karam

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Benjamin Houghton

In Durham, reporting on China in the Middle East

Yun Sun

In Washington, DC, reporting on China-Middle East ties

Dale Aluf

In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East

Emil Avdaliani

Andrea Ghiselli

In Shanghai, reporting on China in the Middle East

TOPSHOT - (L-R) Mahmoud al-Aloul, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Palestinian organisation and political party Fatah, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, senior member of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, attend an event at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 23, 2024. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 23 hailed an agreement by 14 Palestinian factions to set up an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern Gaza after the war. (Photo by Pe

Analysis

Hamas reshuffle constrains China as Yahya Sinwar consolidates power

Ismail Haniyeh was no ally of Beijing, but he and Hamas' political wing emerged in recent years as a bridge to expand China's diplomatic influence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

By Joyce Karam

People visit the booth of Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD during the Indonesia International Motor Show in Surabaya on May 29, 2024.

Analysis

What's behind China carmakers' foray into Turkey following BYD deal?

As a growing number of Chinese carmakers have shown interest in investing in Turkey, Turkish companies in the sector are positioning themselves amid the Chinese foray.

By Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

China’s Baosteel ups investment in Saudi steel plate venture to $1B

A subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker, China Baeowu Steel Group, will have a 50% stake in a major new Saudi-based venture.

Saudi Arabia

A fighter loyal to Sudan's army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, holds a weapon during a graduation ceremony in Gedaref state, May 27, 2024.

UAE, China, Russia, Turkey violating Sudan arms embargo: Amnesty

Amnesty International reports foreign countries sending weapons and ammunition to the warring sides in Sudan, where civil war has raged for more than a year.

Sudan

(L-R) Mahmoud al-Aloul, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Palestinian organisation and political party Fatah, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, senior member of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, attend an event at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 23, 2024. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 23 hailed an agreement by 14 Palestinian factions to set up an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern Gaza after the war. (Photo by Pedro Pardo

'The Beijing Declaration,' China brokers Hamas-Fatah unity deal: What we know

China’s role in the region has been growing in recent years, reaching its peak with the signing of a declaration by Palestinian factions in which they agreed to form a unity government.

Palestine

ACWA Power and China Southern Power Grid representatives.

Saudi-China energy cooperation strengthened by Uzbek wind project sale

Both Saudi Arabia and China are seeking to tap into Uzbekistan's and Central Asia’s energy potential.

Saudi Arabia

Palestinians lift flags of the Hamas and Fatah groups as they demonstrate in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on November 10, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

Guarded optimism on Palestinian reconciliation ahead of Fatah-Hamas meeting in China

Officials in Ramallah say that Hamas accepting the creation of a Palestinian state within the framework of the two-state solution is crucial to progressing Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Palestine

Iraq-China ties progress with Nasiriyah airport project

Relations between Iraq and China are strengthening, in part due to Chinese interest in Iraqi oil and infrastructure projects.

Iraq

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviews the honour guard.

China, UAE hold air force drills in Xinjiang as defense relations grow

The joint air force training exercise, dubbed Falcon Shield, began on Wednesday in the northwest Xinjiang province of China and will continue until late July.

United Arab Emirates

A BYD Ocean-M electric car is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 25, 2024.

China's BYD, world's biggest EV maker, invests $1B in Turkish plant

In a post on the social media platform X on Monday, Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz confirmed that BYD is expected to begin production of vehicles in the new factory at the end of 2026 and that the facility will provide around 5,000 direct jobs.

Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in Astana for the 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, meets with President Xi Jinping of China, on July 4, 2024.

Erdogan meets Xi, praises Turkey’s ties with China-led SCO bloc

The Turkish president reaffirmed his country’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the China-led bloc.

Turkey

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China

China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing

As US blockades Hormuz, China urges restraint, rejects call to ditch Iran oil

Sanctions relief, Pakistan role propel China backing of Iran-US ceasefire

Latest News

China plays peacemaker while letting US bleed in Iran

China, Pakistan announce 5-point plan to end Iran war: What to know

Five reasons China is in no rush to end Iran war

Our Journalists

Jack Dutton

Benjamin Houghton

Yun Sun

Dale Aluf

Emil Avdaliani

Andrea Ghiselli

Hamas reshuffle constrains China as Yahya Sinwar consolidates power

What's behind China carmakers' foray into Turkey following BYD deal?

China’s Baosteel ups investment in Saudi steel plate venture to $1B

UAE, China, Russia, Turkey violating Sudan arms embargo: Amnesty

'The Beijing Declaration,' China brokers Hamas-Fatah unity deal: What we know

Saudi-China energy cooperation strengthened by Uzbek wind project sale

Guarded optimism on Palestinian reconciliation ahead of Fatah-Hamas meeting in China

Iraq-China ties progress with Nasiriyah airport project

China, UAE hold air force drills in Xinjiang as defense relations grow

China's BYD, world's biggest EV maker, invests $1B in Turkish plant

Erdogan meets Xi, praises Turkey’s ties with China-led SCO bloc

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