China is not feeling the shock of war in the Middle East - yet. But it is feeling the ripples.

Beijing’s diplomatic restraint over the US’s standoff with Tehran should not be mistaken for unreliability or indifference.

As Russia and China pour resources into propaganda to shape the future battlespace, the United States and its allies have made no attempt to do the same.

China on Monday issued its first reaction to the escalating US-Iran conflict, urging efforts to prevent the fighting from spreading further across the region.