Trump’s Iran Strikes Send Shockwaves to China, North Korea

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Trump’s Iran Strikes Send Shockwaves to China, North Korea/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites reverberate globally, signaling his willingness to use force. Experts say the attacks unsettle China, North Korea, and Russia, raising questions about U.S. strategy. Allies in Asia weigh both deterrence benefits and risks of unpredictable conflict.

FILE – President Donald Trump, left, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the North Korean side of the border at the village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone, June 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Quick Look: US Iran Strikes Global Reverberations

Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June
China, North Korea, Russia condemned the U.S. action
Analysts say Asia-Pacific allies see Trump’s willingness to use force as a potential deterrent
Experts warn strikes raise questions for Taiwan and Korean security
North Korea may adopt a more cautious approach toward talks
China reevaluates Trump’s risk appetite after military action
The strikes could influence future US-China-Taiwan dynamics
Debate continues whether strikes strengthen or strain U.S. strategic goals

FILE – A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Mo., June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/David Smith, File)

US Strikes in Iran Ripple Through China and North Korea

Deep Look

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump campaigned on promises to keep the United States out of foreign wars. Yet it took little time for him to commit American military power in support of Israel, authorizing precision strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities using B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from a submarine.

While the attacks helped halt a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, experts say their impact extends far beyond the Middle East, sending signals that are being closely scrutinized in Asia, especially in China and North Korea.

“Trump’s strikes on Iran show that he’s not afraid to use military force — this would send a clear message to North Korea, and even to China and Russia, about Trump’s style,” said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Seoul.

China, North Korea, and Russia Condemn US Strike

Ten days into the Israel-Iran conflict, Trump opted for direct military intervention, striking three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22 while negotiations between Washington and Tehran were ongoing.

Iran responded the following day with a missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar, causing no casualties. Both sides then agreed to a ceasefire on June 24.

Russia, China, and North Korea swiftly condemned the American action.

Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled it “unprovoked aggression.” China’s Foreign Ministry denounced it as a violation of international law that heightened regional tensions. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of trampling on Iranian sovereignty and security.

Though militarily successful, the long-term strategic consequences remain uncertain. Some analysts warn that Iran could redouble efforts to develop nuclear weapons, potentially dragging the U.S. into a prolonged conflict.

US Allies See a Possible Positive Signal

For many U.S. allies in Asia, the strikes demonstrated American resolve, according to Euan Graham, a defense analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

“The U.S. strike on Iran will be regarded as a net plus by Pacific allies if it is seen to reinforce red lines, restore deterrence, and be of limited duration,” he said. “China will take note that Trump is prepared to use force, at least opportunistically.”

In China, some previously viewed Trump as risk-averse, said Zhao Minghao, an international relations professor at Fudan University in Shanghai.

“The way the U.S. used power with its air attacks against Iran is something China needs to pay attention to,” Zhao said. “How Trump used power to force negotiations has significance for how China and the U.S. will interact in the future.”

Still, he cautioned, Beijing would not necessarily assume Washington could use similar tactics against China without severe repercussions.

“If a conflict breaks out between China and the U.S., it may be difficult for the U.S. to withdraw as soon as possible, let alone withdraw unscathed,” Zhao said.

North Korea and China Pose Unique Challenges

China and North Korea present challenges far different from Iran. Both possess nuclear weapons, making any potential U.S. strike far riskier. Unlike Israel’s role in the Iran conflict, there’s no comparable regional ally capable of executing initial operations to clear defenses in a conflict with China or North Korea.

North Korea, in particular, might find Israel’s quick success over Iran deeply alarming, said Joseph Dempsey of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“If Iran did have deployable nuclear weapons, would this have occurred? Probably not,” Dempsey noted.

The strikes also suggest that Trump is willing to act militarily even amid ongoing negotiations—a lesson North Korea is unlikely to ignore.

“North Korea may conclude that dialogue, if done carelessly, could backfire by giving the United States a pretext for possible aggression,” said Hong Min of South Korea’s Institute for National Unification. “Instead of provoking the Trump administration, North Korea is more likely to take an even more passive stance toward negotiations.”

Lessons for China and Taiwan

Beijing is also likely to view the Iran strikes through the lens of Taiwan. The U.S. maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about defending Taiwan if China invades.

The strikes raise questions about whether the U.S. might adopt a less restrained military response against Chinese territory if conflict erupts over Taiwan, said Drew Thompson of Singapore’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

“The U.S. airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities caught many by surprise,” he said. “It demonstrated a tolerance and acceptance of risk in the Trump administration that is perhaps surprising.”

Lyle Goldstein, of Defense Priorities in Washington, warned that Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te could be emboldened by the U.S. strike. Lai’s recent warnings about the Chinese threat have already provoked harsh responses from Beijing, which accuses him of pursuing independence.

“President Lai’s series of recent speeches appear almost designed to set up a new cross-strait crisis, perhaps in the hopes of building more support in Washington and elsewhere around the Pacific,” Goldstein said. “I think that is an exceedingly risky gambit, to put it mildly.”

Even as the Middle East simmers, the echoes of Trump’s Iran strikes are reverberating across Asia — and could shape decisions in the world’s most volatile regions in the months to come.