Revision History

Five weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran, China and Pakistan have unveiled a five-point peace initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — the first concrete framework proposed by a major power. But Beijing's mediation bid is shaped as much by its status as Iran's dominant economic partner and largest oil buyer as by any altruistic impulse, raising questions about whether Chinese peacemaking can succeed where it also serves Chinese strategic interests.