This is the latest attempt by Beijing to take a more prominent role in global affairs, though it may prove more rhetorical than substantive, given the United States appears uninterested in China's efforts.
"The war with Iran is a priority for all countries in and outside the region. It is an opportunity China will not miss to demonstrate its leadership and diplomatic initiative," said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank.
Danny Russel, a former senior U.S. diplomat, described Chinese diplomacy as "performative" and compared the five-point proposal for ending the war with Iran to its 12-point plan for Ukraine in 2023, which he said was "full of platitudes but never implemented."
"The Chinese narrative is that while Washington is reckless, aggressive, and disregards costs to others, China is a principled and responsible champion of peace," said Russel, now a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
He says, "What we see from China is messaging, not mediation."
Since the outbreak of the war, China has been "tirelessly working for peace," said Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington.
The Donald Trump administration, according to U.S. officials, shows little enthusiasm for the possibility of Chinese mediation.
The U.S. has been disappointed by third-party mediation efforts and has almost no desire to elevate China's international status or give it an opportunity to claim credit for any potential success in the Middle East, said three U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss potential diplomatic options publicly.
One official described the administration's stance toward the joint China-Pakistan initiative as "agnostic"—neither support nor rejection—but all three emphasized that this could change if Trump engages before a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
For Beijing, there is an additional incentive to see the war de-escalate before Trump travels to China in mid-May. Citing obligations arising from the war, Trump has already postponed a visit originally scheduled for late March once.
"There is no guarantee Trump might not postpone the trip to China again if the war escalates," said Sun.
The war entered a phase of major escalation on Friday when Iran shot down two U.S. military aircraft, the first time since the conflict began five weeks ago. Trump told NBC News that this would not affect negotiations with Iran, just days after telling the nation in an address that the U.S. had "won and completely decimated Iran."
For now, China is more insulated from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz than other countries, having diversified its energy sources and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
China relies on Iran for about 13% of its imported oil needs, and Beijing is working with Tehran to facilitate the passage of Chinese-flagged ships through this key maritime route, where Iranian pressure has driven up energy prices. China also maintains a large strategic oil reserve.
While positioned to cushion short-term shocks, analysts warn that Beijing is concerned about a prolonged war and has an interest in trying to contribute to its end.
"Escalation of the conflict will start harming Chinese interests. Since China's growth model is so export-oriented, prolonged energy shocks and maritime transport disruptions will mean higher input costs and weaker global demand, further undermining its vulnerable economy," said Russel.
Beyond not wanting a long war, China "is using the opportunity to suggest it is helping mitigate a crisis triggered by America, especially as the Trump administration's lack of a thoughtful strategy to contain the fallout becomes increasingly apparent," said Ali Wyne, senior research and advocacy advisor at the International Crisis Group, specializing in U.S.-China relations.
Since the war began, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with counterparts from Russia, Oman, Iran, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. He told Iran that China values its friendship with Tehran, urged Israel to halt military operations, and expressed Beijing's willingness to play a role in seeking peace.
Last week, Wang hosted his Pakistani counterpart in Beijing to coordinate a joint five-point proposal calling for an end to hostilities and the reopening of the strait.
According to Liu Pengyu, Wang has held over 20 phone calls with foreign ministers from the region, and a special envoy has visited multiple countries aiming to promote peace and de-escalate tensions.
Wang also sought support for the Chinese plan from European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, telling her the proposal represents a "broad international consensus," China's foreign ministry stated. He told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that stopping the fighting is the most urgent issue.
This week, he also spoke with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani to explain why China opposes Bahrain's proposal at the United Nations to authorize the use of military force to open the Strait of Hormuz. Wang conveyed that UN Security Council actions should contribute to easing tensions, "not support unlawful war moves, let alone add fuel to the fire."
According to a UN diplomat, China and Russia have argued that the U.S. or other countries could exploit a UN-authorized mechanism to escalate the deadly war.
Both countries currently have less immediate need to see the strait fully open. While China has managed to pay for the passage of some of its ships, Russia benefits from high oil prices, its main export product.
Seeking to avoid a veto, Bahrain has significantly softened its proposal so that it now only authorizes defensive—not offensive—actions to ensure safe passage of ships through the strait. The vote has been postponed until next week.
China believes a ceasefire is needed to resolve the strait issue. However, its joint plan with Pakistan has largely been met with silence in Washington.
One U.S. official said the plan is difficult to assess because it resembles more of a vague call to respect international law, the importance of diplomacy, and the role of the UN, rather than a concrete roadmap to peace.