About this episode

The episode explores China's strategic interests in Iran amidst shifting US military resources and global political dynamics.

The US has moved critical missile defenses and troops from East Asia to the Middle East. With America’s resources stretched thin, is this the ultimate strategic opportunity for China? Former UK Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace and Times Radio political editor Kate McCann sit down with former advisor to President Obama and Georgetown University Director of Asia Studies Evan Medeiros to explore what he calls China’s strategy of “calculated neutrality” – protecting Beijing’s economic interests while avoiding direct conflict with the United States. First, for In Brief, Sir Ben and Kate discuss the US’s thinking behind blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Lord George Robertson’s scathing critique of UK foreign policy, and whether Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s defeat signals the beginning of the end of “strong man” populist politics. Later, Medeiros examines China’s balancing of its economic interests in both Iran and the Gulf countries, China’s Iranian oil “loophole” via the UAE, and if the Iran war is deepening fractures in Western alliances, potentially upending the global rules-based order. In this episode: 02:05 – US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz 04:59 – Frustration amongst…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sir Ben Wallace, Kate McCann

Guest: Evan Medeiros

Topics covered

• China's strategy
• US military presence
• Middle East politics
• Iranian regime
• global alliances
• economic interests

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Georgetown University, Times Radio

Places: United States, Iran, UAE, Hungary, UK

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