Because the primary importer of Iranian oil, China has a serious downside with any constriction of exports within the Gulf – together with the US blockade of Iran’s ports, which started on Monday.
Beijing has condemned the US blockade, calling it “irresponsible and harmful”.
It has additionally reportedly sought to play peacemaker within the battle, steering its ally Iran in the direction of talks with the US in Pakistan final weekend.
However the blockade creates a critical political, financial, and presumably army threat that each the US and China will need to keep away from.
The BBC’s safety correspondent Frank Gardner explains why China’s position within the battle is just too huge to be ignored.