Asian nations, including South Korea and the Philippines, are forging new ties with Russia and Iran due to oil supply disruptions caused by the Iran war.
Beijing is likely to keep a distance from the Iranian conflict despite economic risks, wary of entanglement.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate, impacting oil prices and raising concerns for India's energy security and diaspora.
Two Iran-linked ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz just before a U.S. naval blockade, escalating tensions in the crucial oil route.
The U.S. has permitted a Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba, a move that provides a critical energy lifeline to the island amid intense U.S. pressure on Russia and Cuba's ongoing economic crisis.
China has invited Taiwan's opposition leader, Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang, for talks on 'peace' and 'exchanges' ahead of a potential summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. The move is seen as Beijing's effort to assert influence and project a conciliatory image.