No. of Recommendations: 1
Even if they don't, you gain some diplomatic points by putting a spotlight on their recalcitrance.
With who? That's like asking Germany to intervene with Libya after Mussolini took over Albania in 1939; the "points" scored don't really matter.
The Chinese have a naval presence in the Red Sea. They haven't lifted a finger to guarantee Freedom of the Seas and they're not going to.
It's Western arrogance to assume that the Chinese give a rip about international diplomatic points or not.
I mean, this seems like basic Diplomacy 101. It would be malpractice to not even make a public ask of China to talk to Tehran - it's all upside, and it's a critical step even if you know they're going to refuse to get involved.
It is Diplomacy 101. It's Diplomacy 102 to a) understand that they're going to give you a noncomittal answer that amounts to "pound sand" and b) what to do about it.
