As aerial clashes between Israel and Iran escalate, China has initiated an evacuation operation, successfully withdrawing hundreds of its citizens from Iran through Turkmenistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This marks the first disclosure of evacuation details by Chinese citizens since the onset of the conflict.

According to Chinese state media, thousands of Chinese citizens reside in Iran, primarily engineers working for Chinese companies. Since 2007, Chinese firms have invested nearly $5 billion in Iran, predominantly in the oil sector. A Chinese travel blogger, known as “Shuishui Drift,” mentioned that she decided to leave Tehran and take a bus to Armenia after Israeli airstrikes occurred last Friday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that there have been no reports of Chinese casualties during the current conflict, revealing that 791 citizens have been safely relocated, with over 1,000 others in the process of leaving. Despite the official evacuation being initiated, some Chinese netizens remaining in Iran have shared videos showing local supermarkets stocked with goods, indicating that order is maintained.

Iran is a vital diplomatic focal point for China in the Middle East, being an essential node in the Belt and Road Initiative and a significant source of discounted oil for Beijing. Analysts indicate that should the Iranian regime suffer substantial weakening or replacement, Beijing’s strategic arrangements in the region could face significant challenges.