When China announced a surprise deal restoring ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran this year, it signaled Beijing¡¯s desire to be a diplomatic heavyweight in the Middle East.
The crisis in Israel and Gaza threatens to expose the limits of that ambition.
After the March Saudi-Iran agreement, which China brokered, Chinese media hailed Beijing¡¯s rising profile in a region long dominated by Washington. Wang Yi, China¡¯s top diplomat, said the country would continue to play a constructive role in handling global ¡°hotspot issues.¡±
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