What began as a fragile ceasefire has turned into a U.S.-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — and China is moving to capitalize. As tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, Beijing is quietly positioning itself as a global power broker — nudging diplomacy while sidestepping responsibility. 

At the same time, Donald Trump is firing back with tariff threats, linking instability in the Middle East directly to U.S.–China tensions. Alice and James discuss whether or not the Chinese government is providing military aid to Iran, and explore why that’s such a fraught question. Plus — how China is playing both sides, and what it all means for global markets and oil prices.

And then, author and China scholar Eyck Freymann joins the show to talk about Taiwan — and the looming military threats that a China-led “reunification” effort would pose. From Beijing’s outreach to Taiwan’s opposition, to the ramifications of a potential conflict on the global semiconductor industry, Alice, James and Eyck explore what the consequences of a direct confrontation over Taiwan could be — and whether, in the threat of a Chinese invasion, the U.S. would have what it takes to deter war.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices