“The eagle assassinates the Persian cat leader, an asymmetrical war of attrition ensues where the eagle expends expensive 'anti-air golden needles' to shoot down cheap 'wooden birds.'”

“From the beginning, Chinese officials have been very clear in describing the war as both illegal and a threat to global stability.”

“The image presented is one of a steady, engaged, and diplomatic China in contrast to an aggressive and unpredictable United States.”

“Xinhua News Agency has argued Washington's true goal is an 'Iran without sovereignty,' depicting the war as 'not so much for 'security' as it is for hegemony.'”

“Jing Si You Wo, a popular influencer on the Chinese short video app Douyin, reaches a massive audience on social media. Recent videos have gleefully declared that the US has 'chickened out' in the face of Iranian resolve, and that Iran's greatest weapon is the sheer willpower for 'mutual destruction.'”

“The Chinese military's official Douyin account also published a video using high-definition satellite imagery to rigorously analyze US deployments in the Gulf.”

“The post drew over 6 million likes, in a potential sign China's domestic population is eager to study the playbook and tactics of the US military.”