China stands with Iran in its fight for sovereignty: Victor Gao

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Victor Gao, Vice-President of the Beijing-based Centre for China and Globalisation, discussed China's perspective on the escalating West Asia crisis. Gao claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intentionally drew the United States into a conflict with Iran, stating, "I think Prime Minister Netanyahu played a critical role in pushing the United States into this war to start with." He suggested Israel may seek the 'complete obliteration' of Iran and criticised the lack of gratitude toward Persian civilisation. Gao highlighted Pakistan's unique role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, drawing parallels to its 1971 role in China-US relations. He noted that while China supports Iran's sovereignty, it views war as a last resort and prioritises de-escalation. Gao also suggested that US President Donald Trump's actions are constrained by the upcoming midterm elections, warning that a prolonged conflict could lead to a 'political suicide' for the Republican Party and a global financial crisis.