Does the Road to Peace Run Through Pakistan and China?

Pakistan and China on Tuesday jointly released a new five-point plan to end the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, the relaunch of peace talks, protection for nonmilitary targets, secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a multilateral framework for peace based on the U.N. Charter.

The document also called for the security and territorial integrity of Iran and all Gulf nations to be safeguarded, adding that “China and Pakistan support the parties concerned in initiating negotiations, and all sides should commit to resolving disputes through peaceful means.” The release of the plan came as the two countries’ foreign ministers met in Beijing to discuss pathways to de-escalation.

The role that China might play in such a scenario is unclear. Some analysts argue that Beijing has a strong interest in stepping in to help bring about an end to the conflict, particularly given its energy security is threatened by shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly half of China’s crude oil imports transit through the strait.