Analysis

Five reasons China is in no rush to end Iran war

Despite global economic disruptions, China may tolerate prolonged US involvement in Iran, as it could drain American resources and shift focus away from the Indo-Pacific.

Joyce Karam

Mar 18, 2026

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After telling the Financial Times on Sunday that he “may delay” his trip to China originally scheduled for March 31-April 2, Trump did just that on Tuesday. Speaking from the White House, Trump said the trip will instead happen in “five or six weeks.”

“We’re resetting the meeting, and it looks like it’ll take place in about five weeks,” Trump said before giving a time frame of five or six........

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