The escalating US military operations against Iran are creating a diplomatic challenge for Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his planned summit with Donald Trump in Beijing later this March.

The recent strikes by US and Israeli forces led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other key Iranian officials, sharply heightening tensions in the Middle East, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

While China has condemned US actions as “unacceptable” and called for restraint, Beijing faces limited options to influence Washington and must act pragmatically. President Xi is now confronted with a difficult choice: either proceed with the summit and engage Trump on the global stage or potentially postpone or skip the meeting, as the exact dates remain unconfirmed.

The conflict carries practical and economic risks for China. The country relies heavily on Iranian oil, and disruptions to supply through the Strait of Hormuz could drive up energy prices and impact China’s manufacturing sector.

Experts suggest China is unlikely to intervene militarily, instead allowing the US to manage the situation while reinforcing its own narrative of American destabilization on the international stage.