China’s role in the Iran-US ceasefire reflects its strategic distance

On April 7, less than two hours before US President Donald Trump’s declared deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz expired, a two-week ceasefire was announced after being floated by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The deal followed Iran’s delivery of a 10-point proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediators on April 6.According to Iranian officials, Tehran’s acceptance came after a last-minute intervention by China. The breakthrough came seven days after China and Pakistan jointly unveiled their five-point initiative on March 31, offering a framework that is likely to have established the diplomatic track from which the ceasefire emerged.Despite reiterating its position with another partner, China has not changed its strategy and language since the war began on February 28. Choosing Pakistan to co-brand Beijing’s diplomacy is indicative of the messages China wants to send to its economic and political partners involved in the conflict and how it chooses to exercise influence.