More than five months have passed since the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, setting in motion the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a ceasefire in April and an initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran in June, crude oil flows from the Middle East, which last year accounted for more than half of China’s imports, remain severely disrupted. But China, the largest trading partner of most countries in the region, has failed to transform its economic clout into diplomatic power, highlighting the limits of its influence. Whether this bothers Beijing, however, is unclear — given its ability so far to survive a Hormuz cutoff relatively unscathed.