Iran attack and illusion of strategic correction
2026-03-16 11:15 CHINA DAILY
Global supply chains, energy markets, digital infrastructure and climate governance all depend on predictability. Escalatory patterns in strategically sensitive regions introduce systemic uncertainty that extends beyond local actors. The Middle East, situated at the crossroads of major energy routes and maritime corridors, plays a pivotal role in this architecture.
China's long-standing diplomatic position emphasizes respect for sovereignty, non-interference and negotiated solutions. Whether one agrees with every aspect of this approach, the principle that stability should take precedence over escalation reflects the realities of an interconnected global economy. Durable security cannot be sustained solely through episodic demonstrations of military capability; it requires institutional frameworks capable of managing competition.
It is also essential to place these developments within the broader shift of economic gravity toward Asia. This transformation is not contingent upon a single bilateral relationship. It reflects sustained industrial upgrading, technological innovation, and demographic scale across large parts of the region. The redistribution of economic weight is structural and cumulative.
No single regional episode can fundamentally alter that trajectory. Conversely, no major power can secure long-term stability by relying predominantly on coercive instruments in a system shaped by interdependence.


