A new analytical report has identified China as one of the principal enablers of Iran and Pakistan — two of Israel's most consequential adversaries — arguing that Beijing has systematically strengthened both states through arms transfers, dual-use technology, and diplomatic cover, without deploying a single soldier. The findings, published in the Times of Israel, carry fresh relevance in the aftermath of the conflict involving Iran.

China's Strategy: Influence Without Alliances

According to analyst Sergio Restelli, China's approach differs fundamentally from that of the United States or Russia. Rather than formal alliances or expeditionary military deployments, Beijing relies on a quieter toolkit.

"Unlike the United States or Russia, China has built its influence without alliances or expeditionary deployments, relying instead on arms transfers, dual-use technology, industrial cooperation, economic investment and diplomatic cover," Restelli wrote. "The effect has been the steady strengthening of states that often share an interest in limiting Israeli and American reach across the region and actively empowering terrorists against Israel."

Pakistan: China's Closest Military Partner

The report describes Pakistan as the clearest illustration of China's strategy, noting that over more than three decades, Beijing has transformed Islamabad into its closest military partner. The Pakistan Air Force now operates Chinese-built aircraft including the JF-17 and the J-10CE, while the Pakistan Navy is acquiring Chinese submarines and frigates. Pakistan's missile and air defence systems have also benefited from extensive Chinese cooperation, according to the report.

Pakistan fields the largest armed forces in the Islamic world and remains a nuclear power — making this partnership, the report argues, far from an abstract concern for Israel.

Iran: Strategic Partnership Under Sanctions

Despite years of international sanctions that have constrained conventional arms transfers, China remains one of Iran's principal strategic partners, the report states. Chinese firms have reportedly supplied dual-use technologies, industrial equipment, and components that support Iran's military-industrial base.

The relationship was deepened further by the 25-year strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2021, which expanded bilateral cooperation across energy, infrastructure, technology, and security domains. The report notes that while concrete evidence is lacking, it is "assumed and possibly a reality" that a significant portion of Iran's nuclear technology traces back to Pakistan — with what the report describes as tacit Chinese support.

The China-Iran-Pakistan Triangle

Restelli argues that China sits at the centre of a strategic triangle, maintaining deep military ties with Pakistan while cultivating a broad partnership with Iran. Iran and Pakistan have, for their part, steadily expanded their own security cooperation along their shared border, building military coordination mechanisms following repeated border crises and establishing routine intelligence exchanges on opposition groups.

"China sits at the centre of this triangle, maintaining deep military ties with Pakistan while cultivating a broad strategic partnership with Iran. There is little public evidence of a formal trilateral intelligence arrangement aimed at Israel, but China is well positioned to benefit from information generated through its ties to both countries," Restelli noted. He pointed to military exercises, defence dialogues, technology cooperation, and security consultations as channels through which information flows that "would not otherwise exist."

Why This Matters for Israel and the Region

The report underscores that Iran's proxy network extends across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen — giving the China-Iran-Pakistan axis a wide regional footprint. Critics argue this network actively works against Israeli and American interests in the Middle East.

"China rarely appears on the battlefield, but its influence is visible in the weapons systems, industrial capacity and strategic resilience of states whose interests often run counter to Israel's own, and it deserves more attention than it has so far received," Restelli concluded. The report suggests that Beijing's below-the-radar strategy of arming and enabling adversaries may warrant far greater scrutiny from Western and Israeli policymakers going forward.