久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
Opinion
Home / Opinion / Chinese Perspectives

Middle East tensions nearing climax

By Ma Xiaolin, Zhang Yuan and Huang Minxing | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-06-18 20:20
Share
Share - WeChat
Smoke rises after a reported Israeli strike on the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Monday in Teheran. GETTY IMAGES

Editor's note: The world is holding its breath as the conflict between Israel and Iran rages. Experts share with China Daily the strategic issues behind the conflict, its broader impact on the world, including on oil prices and the global economy, and the role of the United States. Excerpts follow.


The Middle East walks a tightrope

By Ma Xiaolin

The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has pushed the Middle East into one of its tensest moments. What began as a series of assassinations, sabotage, and cyberattacks has now erupted into an open conflict, with both sides seemingly prepared to go the distance. The international community watches nervously as the situation threatens to spiral out of control, destabilizing not only the regional but also the global economy.

For years, Israeli intelligence operations have been trying to penetrate into Iranian territory. From the targeted killings of nuclear scientists to the bombing of sensitive facilities, Israel's capability in covert warfare is almost unmatched. In contrast, Iran's counterintelligence mechanism has shown to be porous. Even top Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-protected sites have been infiltrated, leading to high-profile assassinations.

Israel seems determined to cripple Iran's long-range strike capability, dismantle its intelligence network, and thwart its nuclear plan — if not permanently, then for the foreseeable future. For Teheran, the repeated violations of its sovereignty have made retaliation inevitable. To stay silent would mean accepting not just a military setback, but national humiliation.

Iran has been dealt a body blow so to speak, with its senior commanders eliminated one after another, and the skies over Teheran perforated with Israeli missiles. Israeli jets, emboldened by their operational freedom, have reportedly circled the capital several times — even refueling mid-air — without challenge. Israel, it seems, is out to prove its tactical superiority.

However, Iran's recent counterstrikes, unprecedented in scale, have hit major Israeli cities and even defense installations, shattering the long-held belief of Israel's invulnerability and proving the conflict is no longer one-sided. Yet the growing tit-for-tat is dangerous, with neither side showing signs of de-escalation.

Iran is a regional heavyweight in terms of population and geography, while Israel enjoys technological superiority and the backing of the United States. But geography has complicated Iran's strategy — distant from Israel by more than 1,000 kilometers, Iran cannot fully leverage its demographic or resource advantages, while US support continues to flow into Israel in the form of intelligence, weapons and high-tech military equipment.

The US' dubious role in the conflict is difficult to ignore. While publicly engaging with Teheran in multiple rounds of talks, Washington has seemingly been coordinating with Tel Aviv behind the scenes, thus encouraging it to attack Iran. The US-Iran talks in hindsight appear to be a strategic feint — one that may have prompted Teheran to lower its guard while Tel Aviv prepared to attack Iran. With political pressure mounting, the open involvement of the US in the conflict cannot be ruled out, especially if Israel struggles to achieve its objectives quickly.

However, a prolonged war would benefit no side. Oil prices are already soaring, threatening to disrupt global supply chains and derailing fragile economies' recovery. To prevent the Persian Gulf, through which the world's energy arteries pass, from being turned into bloody battlefield, the international community has been urging the warring sides to exercise restraint.

Arab states, however, are walking a tightrope — careful to avoid being drawn into the conflict. In fact, some oil-rich countries may benefit from higher oil prices, provided shipping lanes remain open. But if Iran broadens its response by, say, targeting US bases in the Gulf or activating proxy forces like the Houthis or Iraqi militias, the conflict could easily spread across borders.

But history warns us against underestimating Iranian nationalism. A country that has encountered centuries of foreign invasion without yielding easily should not be considered weak or extremely vulnerable. This raises the fear that the conflict could turn into widespread regional conflict, drawing in global powers. As such, the international community should act urgently to de-escalate the situation before the window of diplomacy closes.

Ma Xiaolin, dean of the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

1 2 3 Next   >>|
Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 特级毛片永久久免费观看 | 国产精品久久久久国产精品三级 | 精品欧美一区二区三区在线观看 | 日韩欧美亚洲 | 久久久久久久久久久视频国内精品视频 | 国产精品免费看久久久久 | 三级毛片网站 | 日本道综合一本久久久88 | 久久精品国产一区二区三区 | 毛片免费在线视频 | 日本一区二区三区不卡在线视频 | 久久精品免视看国产明星 | 久草视频福利在线观看 | 久草在线新视频 | 国产成人理在线观看视频 | 狠狠色噜狠狠狠狠色综合久 | 免费国内精品久久久久影院 | 夜夜爱夜夜爽夜夜做夜夜欢 | 欧美人一级淫片a免费播放 欧美人与z0z0xxxx | 视频在线一区 | 亚洲黄色第一页 | 女性无套免费网站在线看 | 中国国产一国产一级毛片视频 | 久久er视频| 131的美女午夜爱爱爽爽视频 | 亚洲成人毛片 | 老外黑人欧美一级毛片 | 99久久精品国产一区二区三区 | 免费一区在线观看 | 国产欧美精品区一区二区三区 | 成人免费影视网站 | 成人精品一区二区三区 | 99精品视频免费在线观看 | 国产亚洲在线 | 国产女人在线视频 | 成人男男黄网色视频免费 | 国产成人偷拍 | 久久精品视频日本 | 国产精品视频第一区二区三区 | av片免费大全在线观看不卡 | 亚洲毛片一级巨乳 |