China's diplomatic involvement in the Middle East suggests an effort to assume a peacemaker leadership role. However, some observers question the depth of Beijing's influence in the region, noting that regional conflicts are independent of China.

China’s recent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East have led to speculation over whether its global strategy has shifted. There is consensus that China is stepping into a leadership role and trying to play peacemaker. Meanwhile, a few sceptics point out that the US-Israel war on Iran is not about China and has only exposed how thin Beijing’s influence is in the region. We’ve been here before. In the last decade, with each moment of conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, from Syria to...