Beijing's Risky New Move: Air Defense Weapons Reportedly Bound for Iran

Just when you thought things in the Middle East couldn't get any more interesting - and I mean interesting as in the "ancient Chinese curse" sense - now there are reports that China is preparing weapons shipments for the remains of Iran's theocratic regime. More interesting still, the shipments are reported to include air-defense systems.

That could complicate things.

US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.

It would be a provocative move considering Beijing said it helped broker the fragile ceasefire agreement that paused the war between Iran and the US earlier this week. President Donald Trump is also set to visit China early next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The intelligence also underscores how Iran may be using the ceasefire as an opportunity to replenish certain weapons systems with the help of key foreign partners.

Of course, Iran is using the ceasefire as a chance to re-arm. It's what they do. It's what their proxies, like Hamas and Hezbollah, do - they see any ceasefire as temporary, and a chance to recruit, re-arm, re-equip, train, and plan the next attack.

And if there is any accuracy to these reports, what Beijing may be sending may be aimed directly at our present unchecked air dominance:

Beijing's Risky New Move: Air Defense Weapons Reportedly Bound for Iran

China reportedly plans to send air defense weapons to Iran, complicating Middle East tensions and US-China relations.

redstate.com

 

[Margery]

On the bright side, these weapons could have high failure rates as many a Chinese made item does unless there is heavy oversight such as Apple does in their factories in China.

 

[Tall Timbers]

We'll be able to watch them infiltrated into the country and will be able to destroy them in short order should the start shooting again.

It might be foolish of China to do this because the failure rate will likely be 100% and then nobody will want to purchase air defense systems from China. If they got lucky and shot down a stealth aircraft they would probably see some sales from that... but that's really unlikely.

We already destroyed Chinese air defense systems that were rushed to Iran just before the bombing started. Maybe China just wants to pretend that they really care about Iran so they can still be best buds when this is over.