China imports roughly half of its oil from the Middle East.

BEIJING (AP) — The day the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, China waited several hours before taking its first official position. It said it was “highly concerned” and called for an immediate halt to military operations and the resumption of dialogue.

Beijing has condemned the U.S.-backed strikes on Iran, a close partner. Yet with trade talks looming, it is unlikely to risk a rupture with Washington.

China’s foreign minister tells Israel to end attacks; Russian FM Lavrov says no sign Tehran seeking nuclear bomb.

In quick succession, United States President Donald Trump has taken out two of Beijing’s closest allies.

China's embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for ​comment on whether the Iran situation had changed plans to host ⁠Trump. Asked about the implications of the Iran strikes on talks with Xi, a White House official said Trump was "taking decisive action to eliminate major national security threats," but did not mention China.

Monday on the RCP podcast, Jim Robbins from the Institute of World Politics discussed the wider geopolitical consequences of the Israeli/U.S. strike on Iran and how widely the war could escalate.

China's foreign minister held talks with Iran and Oman as the U.S.-Israel strikes lead to wider regional conflict.

China is the largest importer of energy in the world, and the disruption to oil imports caused by the conflict could be a potential Achilles' heel for Beijing.