The United States' decline is also China's problem
Many in the West see China as the real victor in the Iran war, with the US's failures clearing Beijing's path to global dominance. In reality, it has little to gain from a new world order. - 2026/10 / article
Recent analyses suggest that China may not be the sole beneficiary of the United States' failures in the Iran war, challenging the notion that Beijing is the true victor in the conflict. While many Western observers view China as the primary gainer from the US military setbacks, a closer examination reveals that Beijing's interests align more closely with maintaining the current global order, rather than seeking to supplant American hegemony.
Experts such as Jon B Alterman and Ali Vaez argue that China is "keen to exploit the war to sap US power, gain intelligence on US military systems, and erode the US-led order," but such claims may be more reflective of Western perceptions than of China's actual strategic goals. The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) position can be interpreted as favoring the US maintaining its dominance, as long as it doesn't disrupt the global balances that Beijing has reaped benefits from.
In fact, a satirical report published in early 2026 acknowledged Trump's tariffs and "America First" policies as catalysts for Chinese self-reliance, suggesting that Beijing may have benefited from the US' isolationist tendencies.
Written by urgent.news from Le Monde diplomatique (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- The United States' decline is also China's problem mondediplo.com
