U.S. President Donald Trump has adjusted his scheduled trip to China, which was initially set for the end of March, to a timeframe of 5 to 6 weeks later. This shift may be linked to increased hostilities following U.S.-led attacks on Iran and raises concerns about how these actions will affect Sino-American relations. According to Kyle Chang, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's John L. Thornton China Center, China's diplomatic approach appears to be more focused on transactional benefits rather than shared values, suggesting a possible shift in how China navigates its international partnerships.

Last year, China imported around 1.4 million barrels of Iranian crude oil daily, a significant portion of which travels through third countries like Malaysia, accounting for approximately 10-12% of its total oil imports. The recent U.S. attacks on Iran could place pressure on these oil imports. If Iran's oil supply were to cease due to conflicts or sanctions, experts predict that China might pivot towards alternative suppliers such as Russia or tap into its strategic petroleum reserves, continuing its long-term strategy of diversifying its energy sources.

Regarding the likelihood of China providing military support to Iran, analysts consider this to be highly unlikely. The notion of a close military alliance between China and countries like Iran, Russia, and North Korea—often referred to as 'CRINK'—is seen as exaggerated by many commentators. Typically, China's preference leans towards minimal or no military assistance to most of its trading partners, concentrating instead on economic and trade relationships. Similar to its response to U.S. military involvement in Venezuela, China is likely to call for peace among the conflicting parties rather than take direct military action.