Story perspectives

China Backs UAE in Gulf Islands Dispute, Alarming Iran

12/19/2025

Center

China Backs UAE

China supports the United Arab Emirates in a Persian Gulf dispute over three islands.
The stance unsettles Iran and prompts questions about Tehran's reliance on China amid Western pressure.
Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, visited Abu Dhabi.
The 1971 dispute is unlikely to change as Gulf alignment intensifies Tehran's discussions about its strategic partnerships.

Right

China's Sovereignty Support

Myanmar, Cambodia, and Saudi Arabia have backed China's one-China principle and reaffirmed commitment to China's sovereignty.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is weighing revisions to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, a move that could raise regional tensions.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea criticized Japan's military adjustments and warned of remilitarization.
Analysts say any policy changes would depart from Japan's post-World War II stance on nuclear weapons.

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China Backs UAE

China supports the United Arab Emirates in a Persian Gulf dispute over three islands.
The stance unsettles Iran and prompts questions about Tehran's reliance on China amid Western pressure.
Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, visited Abu Dhabi.
The 1971 dispute is unlikely to change as Gulf alignment intensifies Tehran's discussions about its strategic partnerships.

1 / 2