Chinese Checkers & Trump’s Iran War

Mar 11, 2026 | 20:34 IST

Beijing doesn’t necessarily want an Iranian victory. Ideally, it would like the conflict to drain US resources, preserve a weakened Tehran regime, and protect Chinese regional economic interests

In the prevailing logic of great power competition, Iran seems to have a valuable function for China. For every dollar US spends, defending commercial shipping lanes in Red Sea, from Houthi anti-ship missiles, and for every multi-billion-dollar carrier strike group tethered to Persian Gulf, to deter Iranian aggression, there’s resource unavailable for deployment in Indo-Pacific.

Some may argue, Beijing is deliberately manufacturing a quagmire for US. The deeper insight is this: China is free-riding on US military’s provision of security in Persian Gulf and Red Sea, securing Beijing’s sea trade with Gulf countries, but it’s doing just enough to keep Washington’s resources bogged down. Covert support for Houthis, or Iran’s IRGC, is an example of the latter.

TOI

TOI

Chinese Checkers & Trump’s Iran War

Beijing doesn’t necessarily want an Iranian victory. Ideally, it would like the conflict to drain US resources, preserve a weakened Tehran regime, and protect Chinese regional economic interests

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

Your Privacy is Important to us

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

TOI

Chinese Checkers & Trump’s Iran War

Beijing doesn’t necessarily want an Iranian victory. Ideally, it would like the conflict to drain US resources, preserve a weakened Tehran regime, and protect Chinese regional economic interests

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}