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.

  • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
    30·
    2 days ago
    • Attack and bomb a country during ongoing negotiations.
    • Wipe out a truckload of their air defences
    • Use air superiority to bomb thousands of civilians
    • Propose ceasefire without having achieved any political goals at all
    • The country immediately starts rebuilding their decimated air defences to prevent you from bombing them during the ongoing negotiations
    • shockedpicatchu.jpg
    • this_is_a_provocation.wav
    • REDACTED@infosec.pub
      2·
      22 hours ago

      *Provocation from China to US. I can see the logic, but it’s still only air defenses, not offensive weapons

  • yesman@lemmy.world
    303·
    2 days ago

    Air defense weapons are “provocative”? That’s like a rapist saying it’s provocative for women to buy pepper spray.

    it’s pretty trivial to avoid a nation’s air defenses. Effortless in fact.

    • Tm12@lemmy.caEnglish
      62·
      2 days ago

      Fair take but I’m not a fan of funding the Iron Dome (air defence weapon) for the reason it allows Israel to wage war with impunity against its neighbours. My logic could be used against Iran too, although Iranian responses seem to have been solely reactionary. My point being that yes, they can be seen by some as provocative, especially if misused (i.e. using them to instigate on weaker enemies).

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
    15·
    2 days ago

    I knew it. As soon as rumors started circling that China is leaning on Iran to cease fire, I reasoned that China must have offered something in return, due to Iran’s extremely strong leverage. I thought expanded trade but weapons make sense too.

    Excellent news either way.

    Hopefully they’re effective enough against Israeli jets. If they are, this could serve as wiping Trump’s ass from being unable to force Iarael to obey the ceasefire. If Iran can defend itself against Israeli bombings, Trump can the off-ramp knowing Israel won’t drag him in again.

  • kreskin@lemmy.world
    6·
    2 days ago

    Anything that might bring down jets blowing up schools and hospitals is a good thing, regardless of who fired them or where they came from. Thats just a fact.

  • Glytch@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 days ago

    So defensive weapons are provocative now? Wasn’t that part of the excuse Russia used to invade Ukraine?

  • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world
    44·
    2 days ago

    Can always use more data on the CCP’s anti-air capabilities (even if it’s just the stuff they’re willing to part with) for the main event.

    • zbyte64@awful.systems
      2·
      1 day ago

      The CCP says the same in regards to how it’s equipment does against American planes. The key factor is which side is more capable of adapting.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
      41·
      2 days ago

      The CCP, being a political party, does not in fact have anti-air capabilities. The country they run, China, has anti-air capabilities.

      • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        Isn’t the Chinese army in fact subordinate to (or a branch of) the CCP though? I mean, it’s a one-part system, so it doesn’t make much of a difference, but I seem to remember that the army is in fact formally controlled by the party, not the government.

        PS. Note: I’m not at all sure, just drawing off an old, possibly incorrect, memory.