What lessons will China, India and other Asian nations draw from the Iran war?

What lessons will China, India and other Asian nations draw from the Iran war?

Author: Chatham House April 10, 2026 Duration: 34:29

China prepared in advance for a US attack on Iran. But many of its Asian neighbours have been hit hard because their economies were heavily reliant on energy imports from the Gulf. 
 
In the short-term, the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered rationing, and shortages of diesel, gas and fertiliser. Does that set a negative precedent for other choke points across the world? 
 
In the longer-term the war may force Asian nations into deeper reckonings: to reassess supply chains, economic strategies and whether the US can be trusted as a stable ally. 
 
Why hasn't China supported Iran more? Will the standoff over Hormuz tempt Beijing to flex its muscles over the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea? How will Pakistan leverage its status as negotiator? Will the countries of southeast Asia follow through on calls for more regional integration of energy supplies? 
 
To discuss these issues, and more, Ben Bland, Director of the Asia-Pacific Programme, hosts this week's Independent Thinking podcast, standing in for Bronwen Maddox. He is joined by two of his Chatham House colleagues: Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow for China; and Chietigj Bajpaee, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia.

Read our latest:

News release | Syrian President al-Sharaa on Iran war: 'Syria will remain outside this conflict'

Comment | The Iran war risks triggering a new wave of nuclear proliferation

Comment | Spectator, beneficiary, player: Russia's strategy in the Iran war, from oil to drones

Comment | Iraqi civilians are paying the price of the Iran war

 Produced by Stephen Farrell.

 Read the Spring issue of The World Today

Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 

Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧

Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.


Hosted by Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox, Independent Thinking brings the institute’s private deliberations into the public ear. This isn’t a rehearsed lecture series, but a direct channel into candid, high-level discussions typically held behind closed doors. Maddox guides conversations with a carefully selected mix of leading policymakers, frontline journalists, and Chatham House’s own deep bench of experts, focusing on the international political issues that are shaping headlines and rewriting global strategies. The tone is analytical yet accessible, privileging substance and nuance over soundbites. Each episode feels like a privileged seat at a crucial roundtable, where complex topics-from shifting alliances and economic sanctions to climate diplomacy and conflict-are unpacked with clarity and intellectual rigor. Listeners gain a clearer understanding of the forces driving world events, hearing diverse perspectives clash and converge in real time. For anyone looking to move beyond the superficial news cycle and engage with the substantive arguments defining our geopolitics, this podcast offers an essential and thoughtful resource. It’s where informed opinion meets the pressing questions of our moment, fostering a deeper kind of political literacy.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Independent Thinking
Podcast Episodes
Can Britain be great again? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:17
Is Britain chasing faded glory or forging a credible future? As the government lays out its latest spending review, Bronwen Maddox is joined by Jeremy Hunt and Samir Puri to ask whether bold talk of growth, defence and s…
War plan or wish list - The UK Strategic Defence Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:24
Drones, AI, cyber warfare and nuclear weapons are a key part of the UK's new Strategic Defence Review, along with conventional weapons. Chatham House experts unpack the strategy, spending pledges and how Britain should a…
What's the future for Gaza? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
As Gaza reels from staggering humanitarian devastation, Bronwen Maddox speaks with Yossi Mekelberg, Stephen Farrell, and Julie Norman to unpack the political drivers of Israel's war, the role of Donald Trump, and the reg…
Is Brexit finally done? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Nine years after the Brexit vote, a new UK–EU deal promises smoother trade and deeper cooperation — but is it the end of the Brexit saga or just another chapter? Bronwen Maddox digs into what the deal really means with R…
Can the UK take on the EU, US and China? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:42
As trade tensions, security concerns, and diplomatic crossroads converge, the UK's bid for economic growth faces hard choices on the global stage. In this episode host Bronwen Maddox explores the UK's complex balancing a…
Can India and Pakistan step back from the brink? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged following a deadly attack in Kashmir and air strikes by India inside Pakistan. With nuclear risks, regional diplomacy, and rising domestic pressures in play, what could pre…
Ukraine's impossible choice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:33
As Donald Trump floats a controversial peace deal that could leave Ukraine facing territorial losses and NATO exclusion, Kyiv is forced to weigh an impossible choice between sovereignty and survival. Bronwen Maddox speak…
Is the US dollar losing its dominance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
As the IMF Spring Meetings unfold in Washington DC, Bronwen Maddox asks whether we are witnessing the twilight of the US dollar's global dominance. Amid political shocks and shifting financial allegiances, could the worl…
How can Nigeria tackle corruption? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:23
In this episode of Independent Thinking, we explore the root causes of corruption in Nigeria, its impact on everyday life, and potential solutions for change. Bronwen Maddox speaks with Leena Koni Hoffmann about her in-d…
Is the US confronting China in Latin America? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:14
This week on Independent Thinking, we explore the growing battle for influence in Latin America between the U.S. and China. In just two decades, China has gone from a minor player in the region to a dominant force—challe…