Le Monde | China: A discreet but essential supporter of Iran’s war effort
Illustrative image: Chinese Navy intelligence-gathering vessel at sea. Photo: 隐世高人 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and straightened from original).
In an interview with Le Monde, Risk Intelligence Senior Analyst Louis Borer shares his insights into China's naval presence in the region, highlighting the strategic importance of its Doraleh naval base in Djibouti and its intelligence cooperation with Iran.
28 October 2026
Published on 21 October 2026, the article discusses China's role in supporting Iran amid the ongoing conflict, including its continued purchases of Iranian oil, the supply of dual-use goods, and its technological and intelligence support.
Louis Borer describes how China's naval base in Doraleh, Djibouti, has become the central hub for Chinese operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
He explains that through its naval deployments and the sharing of technical intelligence, particularly satellite intelligence, China directly contributes to monitoring vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Borer also highlights the reciprocal nature of this relationship, noting that Iran, in turn, contributes to China's energy security architecture.
Read the full article in French on Le Monde (behind a paywall)
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