据沙特阿拉伯拥有的杂志《Al Majalla》报道，中国不愿在伊朗战争中选边站队，其外交官据报正受到敦促，要在与美国争夺地区影响力日益激烈的背景下，维护同海湾国家的关系。作为世界第二大经济体，中国依赖海湾原油，包括伊朗供应，迫使北京为保障能源流动而不得不精打细算地“骑墙观望”。
China, reluctant to pick a side in the Iran war, is reportedly being urged by its diplomats to protect relations with Gulf states as competition with the US for influence in the region heats up. The world’s second-largest economy depends on Gulf crude, including Iranian supplies, forcing Beijing to practice the fine art of fence-sitting in the name of protecting energy flows, Al Majalla, the Saudi-owned magazine, reported.
中国担心也门伊朗支持的胡塞武装威胁经曼德海峡的航运安全。北京支持也门国际公认的政府，并从其在吉布提的附近基地开展了海军演习，但含有中国零部件的武器却落入了胡塞武装手中。
China is concerned about Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis threatening shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Beijing backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government and China has carried out naval exercises from its nearby base in Djibouti, but weapons with Chinese components have ended up in Houthi hands.
战争不断扩大，令中国的平衡术更难维持：据报道，北京已向德黑兰施压，要求其约束胡塞武装，此举可能让中国显得是海湾国家更可靠的朋友。
The expanding war is making China’s balancing act harder to sustain: Beijing has reportedly put pressure on Tehran to restrain the Houthis, a move that could make it seem a more reliable friend to Gulf states.