China could gain a “massive strategic advantage” from the war in Iran by reshaping trade in the Middle East and catching up with the US militarily, according to one analyst.
Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University HSBC Business School, also said that with the current ceasefire looking likely to be extended, Beijing should assume a more active role in peace talks.
He told a seminar in Shenzhen on Friday that China should draw on the lessons from the conflict, arguing that although it had a vast arsenal of new weapons, it had not had the chance to learn from “actual combat”.
“I believe the war in the Middle East is of great value to China, particularly militarily,” he said.
“The more the US military fights, the narrower the generational gap between our equipment and theirs becomes. Its engagement in warfare actually serves as a massive learning opportunity for China.”
The United States has hinted at the possibility of further peace talks ahead of the end of the current two-week ceasefire on Wednesday.
