US experience fighting Iran offers lessons for China, experts say

US Experience in the Iran Conflict Offers Strategic Insights for China, Experts Argue

US experience fighting Iran offers lessons – As the conflict in the Persian Gulf reaches its third month, the ongoing engagement has become a pivotal case study for China’s military planners. Analysts suggest that this prolonged confrontation is shedding light on the intricacies of U.S. military operations under pressure, while also underscoring the critical role adversaries play in shaping the outcome of any war. CNN recently sought perspectives from experts across China, Taiwan, and other regions to explore how the past two months of hostilities might influence China’s approach to potential confrontations with the United States. These insights reveal concerns about China’s readiness to leverage its strengths effectively, as well as its need to adapt to evolving battlefield realities.

China’s Defensive Challenges Highlighted

Among those offering analysis is Fu Qianshao, a retired air force colonel in China. He emphasized the importance of learning from Iran’s ability to bypass U.S. defensive systems, such as the Patriot and THAAD. “The People’s Liberation Army must not overlook its defensive capabilities,” Fu stated, noting that Iran’s tactical use of low-cost drones and ballistic missiles has exposed vulnerabilities in American air defenses. This observation aligns with broader concerns that China’s military, despite rapid advancements in offensive weaponry, may still underestimate the significance of robust defensive infrastructure. “Identifying weaknesses in our defensive posture is essential to ensuring invincibility in future conflicts,” Fu added, urging a balanced focus on both offense and defense.

“We need to devote significant efforts to identify weakness in our defensive side to ensure we remain invincible in future wars,” Fu told CNN.

China’s offensive capabilities have grown substantially in recent years, with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) investing heavily in hypersonic glide vehicles and long-range strike platforms. These advancements position China as a formidable force in precision warfare, capable of delivering high-impact strikes across vast distances. However, analysts warn that this focus on offensive power could leave China’s defenses exposed, particularly in scenarios involving air superiority or electronic warfare. The British think tank RUSI reports that the PLA Air Force is set to field approximately 1,000 J-20 stealth jets, a figure comparable to the U.S. F-35 fleet. This rapid modernization underscores China’s ambition to project power globally, yet it also highlights the need for complementary defensive strategies.

Taiwan as a Potential Flashpoint

While the Iran conflict is a recent example, the broader strategic implications of U.S.-China tensions extend to regions like Taiwan. The island, a self-governing democracy, is often seen as a critical point of contention in the ongoing rivalry. China’s ruling Communist Party has consistently asserted its claim over Taiwan, with President Xi Jinping not ruling out military intervention to achieve reunification. This stance has intensified scrutiny of China’s military readiness, particularly its ability to sustain operations in a high-stakes scenario.

Experts in Taiwan acknowledge that the country’s defense forces are now equipped to counter both high-tech precision weaponry and large-scale drone attacks. Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, noted that China’s military has demonstrated the capacity to match the U.S. in advanced airpower while also outperforming Iran in the use of drone swarms. “Long-range rockets and drone swarms will play a central role in China’s operations against Taiwan,” Chung explained, emphasizing the strategic flexibility of such systems. However, the question remains: would this advantage be sufficient to secure victory in a conflict across the Taiwan Strait?

“Long-range rockets and drone swarms will definitely play a key role in China’s joint military operations against Taiwan,” Chieh Chung told CNN.

Recent assessments suggest that China’s drone manufacturing capacity is a game-changer. Analysts point out that Chinese civilian producers can retool their facilities within a year to manufacture up to one billion weaponized drones annually, according to a 2025 report from the War on the Rocks analytical platform. This volume far exceeds what Taiwan’s military currently has the resources to counter. A government watchdog’s recent analysis labeled Taiwan’s existing drone countermeasures as “ineffective,” citing risks to critical infrastructure and military bases. Yet, Taiwan is not passive in its response. Gene Su, managing director of Thunder Tiger, one of the island’s leading drone manufacturers, called for increased investment in mass production capabilities. “We need to produce continuously, day and night, to counter our enemies,” Su said, stressing the importance of readiness and adaptability.

Shifting Dynamics in the Pacific Theater

Meanwhile, the U.S. military is also learning from the conflict, with commanders recognizing the possibility of a different role in a future Pacific war. Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, highlighted during a Senate hearing in April that drones have transformed the cost dynamics of warfare. “Drones make warfare much more costly for the offensive side,” Paparo remarked, suggesting that the U.S. might need to adopt a defensive posture if a conflict were to escalate to the Taiwan Strait. This shift in perspective reflects a growing awareness that the U.S. could face challenges in maintaining air superiority if China’s drone technology continues to advance.

China’s military display in the Iran conflict has also reinforced its vision of a new global order. With its growing arsenal of long-range missiles and advanced airpower, the nation is positioning itself as a major player in regional and international affairs. The U.S. experience in the Persian Gulf serves as a reminder that even the most technologically advanced forces must account for the agility and adaptability of their opponents. Analysts argue that the combination of Iran’s low-cost, high-volume attacks and the U.S.’s sophisticated air campaigns provides a template for how China might approach its own conflicts. For instance, the U.S. employed a mix of high-tech platforms like F-35s and B-2s alongside cost-effective guided munitions from older aircraft such as B-1s and B-52s. This blended approach allowed the U.S. to target a range of assets, from missile launchers to naval vessels and bridges.

As China continues to modernize, its military strategies are evolving to mirror these lessons. While the PLA’s offensive capabilities are impressive, the Iran conflict has demonstrated that success depends on both technological superiority and the ability to counter unexpected threats. The growing emphasis on drone warfare, in particular, raises questions about China’s preparedness for multi-domain conflicts. With its own stealth bomber programs in progress and a robust drone manufacturing industry, China is well-positioned to challenge U.S. dominance in the region. However, the outcome of any potential confrontation will hinge on how effectively it can integrate these capabilities with traditional military forces.

In conclusion, the Iran conflict is more than a regional incident—it is a training ground for China’s military ambitions. By analyzing the U.S. approach, Beijing can refine its own strategies, balancing offensive power with defensive resilience. As tensions in the Pacific intensify, the lessons from the Persian Gulf will likely shape the course of future engagements, highlighting the complex interplay of technology, tactics, and geopolitical stakes.