China was the Iran war's biggest winner. It never fired a shot

Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the Iran war doing what he does best — patiently exploiting America's distraction and discord.Why it matters: The conflict allowed China to bolster its diplomatic leverage, clean-energy muscle and intelligence on the U.S. military — all without firing a shot or spending a dollar.The implications touch supply chains, energy procurement, geopolitical risk, and the race for superior AI and weaponry.Even with progress toward a framework for peace between the U....