Executive Summary
The war in Gaza is not a standalone conflict. It is a subsystem of a larger "Minimisation" strategy run by Great Power competitors. China is the Director. Iran is the Hub. Hamas is the weapon.
This briefing maps the invisible financial, military, and logistic pipelines that allow China to fund Israel's destruction while simultaneously trading with Tel Aviv.
Section 1: The Director (China's Dual-Track)
China's goal is to displace the US as the dominant power in the Middle East. It uses a "Dual-Track" policy to achieve this.
The Public Face
Publicly, China poses as a neutral "Peacemaker." It hosts reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas (Beijing Declaration) and trades heavily with Israel.
The Hidden Hand
Privately, China provides the economic and diplomatic cover that makes the war possible. It refuses to call Hamas terrorists, calling them "elected representatives," and blocks US resolutions at the UN. It is the "Protector" of the network.
Section 2: The Motive (Belt & Road)
Why does China care about Gaza? It's not religion; it's logistics.
The Middle East is the essential bridge for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China needs the region to be:
- Stable enough to move Chinese goods to Europe.
- Chaotic enough to trap the United States in endless security wars.
This "Controlled Chaos" strategy keeps the US distracted and drained, while China builds the infrastructure of the future.
Section 3: The Paradox (The Feedback Loop)
The tragedy is self-inflicted. The modern Chinese military machine was partly built by Israel.
Israel's Strategic Error
In the 1990s and 2000s, Israel secretly sold advanced military technology to China, including the PHALCON airborne radar and HARPY anti-radar drones. Israel helped modernize the very superpower that is now funding its enemies.
Today, that tech has matured, and the geopolitical cover China provides to Iran is the direct result of a China that feels secure enough to challenge the US.
Section 4: The Fuel (Iran's Oil)
How does a sanctioned country like Iran have billions of dollars to fund Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis? Because China buys their oil.
The 90% Mechanism
This is not a small leak; it is the entire pipeline.
- The Volume: China purchases approximately 90% of Iran's total oil exports.26
- The Method: They use a "Ghost Fleet" of tankers and illicit financial channels to bypass US sanctions.
The Causal Chain: China buys Oil -> Iran gets Cash -> Hamas gets Rockets. Without Chinese money, the "Axis of Resistance" collapses tomorrow.
Section 5: The Fire (The Arms Supply)
It is not just money. The physical hardware falling on Israeli cities often has Chinese origins.
Made in China
Chinese-manufactured components—specifically guidance systems and propellant chemicals—are frequently recovered from Hamas and Hezbollah munitions sites.
These are often supplied via state-owned giants like NORINCO. Whether direct or routed through Iran, the result is the same: The rockets have Chinese DNA.
Section 6: The Host (Qatar)
Qatar serves as the "Safe Haven" node. It hosts the Hamas political leadership (including Ismail Haniyeh before his death) in luxury in Doha.
The China Connection: Qatar is China's #1 supplier of LNG (Liquid Natural Gas). They are bound by massive, multi-decade energy contracts. This economic armor protects Qatar from Western pressure to expel Hamas.
Section 7: The Gatekeeper (Egypt)
Egypt plays the most complex role: The "Gatekeeper" of the Gaza Strip.
The Rafah Choke Point
Egypt controls the Rafah crossing—the only way in or out of Gaza that isn't Israel. While Egypt hates the Muslim Brotherhood (and thus Hamas), it needs China.
The Leverage
China is the largest investor in Egypt's new administrative capital and the Suez Canal zone. This "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" gives Beijing immense leverage over Cairo. Egypt keeps the border managed exactly how the network needs it.
Section 8: The Shield (Sanctions Blocking)
The network doesn't just fund the war; it protects the aggressors from consequences.
Blocking the "Snapback"
In August 2025, the "E3" (UK, France, Germany) tried to trigger the "Snapback" mechanism—a clause in the nuclear deal to reimpose massive UN sanctions on Iran for non-compliance.
The Blockade: China and Russia effectively blocked this at the UN Security Council. They argued the move was "legally flawed."
The Strategic Result
This proves the alliance is functional. When the West tried to turn off the money tap to Iran (which funds Hamas), China stepped in to keep it open. The war is subsidized by Beijing.
Works Cited
- China-Iran Oil Trade (90% figure) - Domino Theory / US Treasury.
- China-Qatar LNG Contracts - Reuters.
- Beijng Declaration (Fatah-Hamas) - Al Jazeera.
- UN Security Council Snapback Vote (2025).
- China-Egypt Strategic Partnership - Wikipedia.
- China's Dual-Track Diplomacy - Peace Diplomacy.