” When analysts refer to Iran or Venezuela as a Chinese “ally,” the word ally is doing so much heavy lifting, since these Chinese partnerships, unlike Washington’s alliances, carry no presumption of obligation or binding security commitment.Venezuela and Iran were not “allies” to China in the way the United States has allies, with attendant security obligations built into them. China has security interests in third regions and has increased its posture, but even in this domain, it has leaned into internal security and policing, not commitments to others’ external defense in which it has zero core interest.”
