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AsiaCentre

Founded in 2005, Asia Centre is an independent research institute that holds debates and issues publications on matters relating to international, strategic, economic relations, as well as the political and social transformations underway in the Asia-Pacific region. At the crossroads of university research as well as public and private decision-making, Asia Centre researchers identify critical regional issues and analyse them in-depth, taking into consideration both local and global dimensions. Asia Centre’s programs are developed with a vast network of partners, companies and major specialist centres in Europe, North America and Asia. The Centre carries out joint operations with these groups, for a better interpretation of ideas and issues. The conclusions of these meetings, such as the results of the work carried out using original sources by our researchers, are widely distributed through the Centre’s publications as well as through international journals, books and media.

Other analyses

Taiwan cooking oil scandal: Why Isn’t Beijing Adding Fuel to the Fire? • Isabelle Feng

31 July 2026 No Comments

In this new piece, Isabelle Feng looks back at the tainted cooking oil scandal that has affected Taiwan for several weeks, and at Beijing’s measured response to the affair. She examines the protests held in Taipei on 25 July, the coverage of the event by Chinese state media, and reactions observed on Chinese social media. She puts this episode in perspective alongside the history of food safety scandals in mainland China and the question of freedom to protest on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

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Iran after the Sanctions: the Marginalization of China

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Note n°5 de l’Observatoire de la Chine, par Yitzhak Shichor (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Haifa)

According to most commentators, the removal of sanctions on Iran has presented China with great opportunities. Small wonder that Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader to visit Iran after the agreement had been signed. This is, however, a misinterpretation of Sino-Iranian relations. Although Beijing has all along supported and endorsed a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of Iran’s nuclear plans, such a settlement is counter-productive as far as China’s interests are concerned. While opposing sanctions in principle, Beijing has benefitted probably more than any other country from the sanctions imposed on Iran – and on other countries. In Sudan, evacuated by the West under US pressure, China has become the predominant player in the oil sector, not to mention North Korea, Myanmar or even Russia. However, while Iran’s isolation served China’s interests, their “friendly” relations have concealed mutual suspicion, criticism, mistrust and reservations. All these by necessity affect Sino-Iranian relations after the sanctions were lifted, and their future course. It is essential to briefly review and analyze their relations before and during the sanctions to correctly appreciate their relations today and tomorrow.

  • China and Iran before Sanctions
  • China and Iran under Sanctions
  • China and Iran after Sanctions
  • Conclusion
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