Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said in an interview with Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing newspaper Ming Pao that the Iran War has complicated U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China. According to Wang, the situation may leave Trump in a more difficult diplomatic position while increasing Beijing’s bargaining leverage ahead of the visit.
Wang argued that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could become prolonged and may last until September. Without deploying ground forces, he said, Washington would likely find it difficult to completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities because many of the facilities have already been moved underground. Wang also defended China’s approach to the crisis, saying Beijing has taken a relatively cautious stance in criticizing the United States while avoiding the harder line adopted by Russia. He added that China remains uncertain about Iran’s political stability and its long-term attitude toward Beijing. At the same time, Iran’s retaliatory strikes on bases in several Arab countries highlight China’s regional interests, as Beijing has significant investments in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and is preparing to host a China–Arab States summit.
On Taiwan, Wang said Trump’s main concern is ensuring that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) does not fall under mainland Chinese control. Beijing, however, hopes the United States will publicly oppose Taiwan independence and delay the delivery of arms sales to Taiwan. Wang suggested that while Washington cannot openly reverse its policy, it could slow implementation through practical measures such as postponing deliveries or citing technical issues. He also said China would prefer that Trump restrain Japan’s leadership from supporting Taiwan independence.
Wang added that Trump had initially planned to visit China from a position of strength, but the prolonged Iran conflict has complicated that strategy and increased China’s leverage. He noted that Trump also faces domestic political pressure ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, which may make cooperation with China more important. In this context, Wang said Beijing could remain flexible while seeking concessions, as long as the United States is able to claim a political victory domestically.
Source: Ming Pao, March 14, 2026
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/中國/article/20260314/s00013/1773421783362/王義桅-伊朗戰火增華籌碼-「中美共治」是「毒誘」