China-Iran: more sodium perchlorate deliveries, more discounts for oil. China-Western Sahara: more fence-sitting.
Western intelligence says Iran is rearming despite UN sanctions, with China’s help - CNN.
European intelligence sources say several shipments of sodium perchlorate, the main precursor in the production of the solid propellant that powers Iran’s mid-range conventional missiles, have arrived from China to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas since the so-called “snapback” mechanism was triggered at the end of September.
Those sources say the shipments, which began arriving on September 29, contain 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate bought by Iran from Chinese suppliers in the wake of its 12-day conflict with Israel in June. The purchases are believed to be part of a determined effort to rebuild the Islamic Republic’s depleted missile stocks. Several of the cargo ships and Chinese entities involved are under sanctions from the United States.
A bit of background:
In February, CNN reported the shipment of 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate to Iran from China. By April, the US had slapped sanctions on several Iranian and Chinese entities, including vessels believed to play a role in “a network procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
Yet the shipments continued, the intelligence sources say, with the IRGC’s Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization acquiring another 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate which left Taicang in China aboard the Hamouna on May 22 and arrived in Bandar Abbas on June 14 or 15. It set sail for the Iranian port less than a month after a massive explosion there on April 27, believed to have been caused by sodium perchlorate, killed 70 and wounded hundreds.
The latest shipments represent much bigger quantities in a short space of time. The first of the 10 to 12 shipments that European intelligence sources have been tracking arrived in Iran on September 29, two days after the snapback mechanism – triggered in August by Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, the European partners to the JCPOA – restored UN sanctions. The others all left China after the sanctions were in place.
Iranian oil discounts to China widen on sanctions, quota shortage - Reuters. More bargain shopping in the Iranian energy market for Chinese buyers. This piece has unnamed sources claiming bids have been made for as much as $10 below market value for Iranian oil.
Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf - PRC MOFA. I’m hoping to find time this weekend to write a longer piece on this, although I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation. Too many deadlines, too little time.
China, along with Russia and Pakistan, abstained on the October 30 UN resolution supporting Morocco’s claim to the Western Sahara. The day before, FM Wang reached out to his Algerian counterpart FM Attaf, most likely to explain why they wouldn’t join Algeria in opposing the measure. No surprises here. Despite the comprehensive strategic partnership with Algeria, China’s increasingly growing economic relations with Morocco make for yet another problematic triangle for Chinese foreign policy in the MENA region. Being friends with both sides in a deeply competitive or hostile environment can only take you so far if your ambition is to be seen as a credible actor. That China continues to avoid tipping the scales, whether in the Gulf or Western Sahara, shows that it has limited ambitions beyond commercial ties, at least in my thinking.
On October 29, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Algerian Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf at the latter’s request.
Wang Yi noted that China and Algeria share a profound traditional friendship. The two countries have built an all-dimensional framework of cooperation and established a comprehensive strategic partnership. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, China-Algeria relations have achieved steady and sound development. China is ready to work with Algeria to follow through on the common understandings reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, support each other’s core interests, and strive for more achievements in China-Algeria relations.
Wang Yi said that the second China-Arab States Summit will be hosted in China next year, which will be another grand event with milestone significance in the history of the development of China-Arab relations. Noting that Algeria is a major country with significant influence in the Arab world, Wang Yi said China is ready to maintain communication with Algeria to jointly contribute to the success of the summit.
Ahmed Attaf said that China is an important trade and investment partner of Algeria. Under the guidance of the two heads of state, Algeria-China relations have maintained strong momentum, effectively promoting Algeria’s national development. As a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, China has upheld an objective and impartial position in international affairs, which the Algerian side highly appreciates. Algeria is willing to work with China to continuously enhance the traditional friendship between the two countries, deepen practical cooperation, and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership between Algeria and China to a higher level. Algeria supports China in hosting the second China-Arab States Summit, which will inject new impetus into relations between Arab countries and China.
Ahmed Attaf briefed Wang Yi on Algeria’s position on the Western Sahara issue. Wang Yi stated that China’s position on the Western Sahara issue is consistent. China holds that a political solution is the fundamental way out. The United Nations is the main channel, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions are an important basis. Dialogue and negotiation are the right approach. Wang Yi expressed the hope that relevant parties will fully communicate and reach a solution acceptable to all based on a fair position.
China’s Delicate Balance: Predicting Beijing’s Position on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan at UNSC - Morocco World News. This is a useful primer on the issue, and correctly anticipated the Chinese abstention. This section lays out the position China finds itself in between Morocco and Algeria:
Several competing interests will influence China’s position at the upcoming Security Council meeting. On one hand, China has significant economic investments in Morocco, particularly in infrastructure and renewable energy projects that align with its Belt and Road Initiative objectives. Supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan could strengthen this strategic partnership and potentially provide China with greater access to North African markets and renewable energy resources. Additionally, China generally prefers stable governments with clear territorial control, as instability complicates economic investments. On the other hand, China has traditionally positioned itself as a champion of post-colonial sovereignty rights and non-interference, principles that would be tested by endorsing Morocco’s territorial claims without a self-determination process. China also maintains important relationships with Algeria and other African nations that support the polisario, creating competing pressures that complicate a clear alignment with either position .