China's Middle East Meddling: What's Xi's Endgame in Pakistan? The high stakes diplomacy unfolding in Beijing has all the makings of a classic game of great power chess, with China's leader Xi Jinping at its center.
As Iran teeters on the brink of war and regional tensions reach a fever pitch, Xi's recent meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is just one move in a complex dance that will have far reaching consequences for global stability.
Sharif's visit to China is part of a delicate balancing act between his country's historic ties with both Pakistan and the United States.