Alice Han

Thus far, I haven't seen the Americans really react.

I think that they're very much bogged down in what is happening in the Middle East.

Yeah, and just to back up your point of China being a peacemaker in the region, there is a history of this, right?

China back in 2023 was responsible for the rapprochement between the Saudis and the Iranians that led to a diplomatic detente and rapprochement.

So they have a track record.

I am on the side, you are on James, is that they will play a part in any peace negotiation in the region, given the outsized commercial, economic and diplomatic influence they have with a lot of the Gulf and Iranian players.

You know, if I'm looking at this from a realist perspective, you know, Allah, John Mearsheimer or Graham Ellison,

I am worried that the wrecking ball analogy that you used has actually empowered the axis of ill will.

If you think about the countries, the original countries within that nomenclature were Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

With oil prices going up for the conceivable future, that benefits Russia.

Iran is hard to decapitate.

We've probably replaced one leader with a more hardline leader.

And China, to your earlier point, James, looks to be benefiting diplomatically.

I'd be worried if I were Kissinger come back from the grave and looking at what Washington's doing.

Great point.

And to your point, a lot can change in the next week or two.

So we will stay braced for the news.

Okay, let's take one last quick break.

Stay with us.

Welcome back.