New Delhi, April 5 -- China has every reason to want the Iran war to end. The question is whether it's prepared to do more than issue yet another peace plan heavy on rhetoric and light on results.

There's no doubt the war is reinforcing China's favoured narrative: that the US under President Donald Trump is a destabilizing force, while Beijing is a reliable pillar of the international order.

It could also give President Xi Jinping a chance to showcase his country's clout, notwithstanding his reluctance to get drawn into conflicts in West Asia. If it were to step in, Beijing would likely want to help shape a resolution while avoiding the work that comes with enforcement. Any action along those lines would mark a meaningful expansion of i...