U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran are sending shockwaves far beyond the Middle East — and deep into Beijing’s strategic calculus.

Analysts say the military campaign reinforces what Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has long argued: hard power ultimately determines national security and global status.

According to reporting by The New York Times, Xi has repeatedly warned of American military pressure and has pushed the People’s Liberation Army to become a world-class force — what he once called a “Great Wall of Steel” capable of deterring adversaries.

While Washington and Beijing remain locked in competition mixed with limited cooperation, Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet in Beijing in the coming weeks to preserve a post–trade war truce. Still, Washington’s recent use of force against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro — both seen as strategic partners of China — has unsettled Beijing.

Over the past decade, China has expanded its navy and developed advanced weapons systems, including drones and hypersonic missiles. With Trump taking a hard line on Iran and Venezuela, Chinese analysts argue that military modernization must accelerate to prepare for potential strategic pressure.

Hong Kong-based Chinese University political scientist Zheng Yong-nian (鄭永年) warns that the United States leveraged Israel against Iran — and says Beijing must prevent American allies like Japan and the Philippines from playing similar roles in Asia. 

Shanghai-based Fudan University international relations scholar Shen Ding-li (沈丁立) says the conflict is forcing China to reassess the balance of power. 

For Beijing, the war is more than a regional crisis. It is a stark reminder that military strength, energy security and technological dominance will shape the next global order.