Subject: Re: The seized Iranian ship...
I know, right? Why would the Chinese help the Iranian ballistic missile programs? It's absurd to think they would.

Of course they're going to help. That's why it's absurd to think that blowing up Iran's missiles would lead to any long-term degradation in their capabilities.

As soon as the war is over they're going to replenish their ballistic missile stocks. And China's going to help them, by providing raw materials - and probably a lot of financing and capital investment as well. Iran long ago learned how to build their own missiles and other weapons, in response to very severe arms sanctions. But there's still an opportunity for China to get involved by providing materials and money.

It's a situation that only strengthens China's position in the Middle East, as Iran gets drawn even further into their grasp. They're going to have little choice but to rely on the Chinese after the war is over, to even a greater degree than they did before (especially since Russia's in no position to do them many favors). Xi probably can't believe his luck....