Debate over the Iran protests is intensifying in China, one of Iran's key strategic and economic partners.
But the tone among ordinary people on social media differs markedly from the official position of the Chinese government and state-run media.
On Wednesday, China's state news agency Xinhua published an article titled, "Will the United States use military force against Iran?"
It argued that "the United States is waging a cognitive war against Iran that combines psychological warfare, public opinion warfare, information warfare and cyber warfare, in an attempt to divide and undermine Iranian society from within".
"American-style hegemonic behaviour poses a serious threat to regional and global peace and stability," the article said.
Xinhua also posted an AI-generated animated video on X, featuring a cartoon bald eagle, a symbol of the United States, singing a song portraying America as the world's policeman.
"World police, world police, keeping order overseas. World police, world police, if I say it's right it's peace," the lyrics go.
But discussion among Chinese social media users has been far less one-sided.
Some users have posted comments under the official Weibo account of the Iranian embassy, condemning Tehran for killing protesters.
"Get out of here, butchers!" one user wrote, while others urged Iran's leaders to "face up to the will of the people".
On Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, users have left comments under videos of the protests expressing support for Iranians resisting oppression and fighting for freedom.
"I hope the Iranian people succeed," one user wrote.
There are also voices supporting Tehran.
Some users said they backed the Iranian people in "resisting US imperialism".
Beijing's official response has remained tightly focused on Washington.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing opposed "external interference in other countries' internal affairs" and the "use or threat of force in international relations".
China taking a 'bystander mentality'
Nationwide protests in Iran have resulted in more than 2,600 deaths, according to the US-based human rights group HRANA.
Global attention is now focused on whether, and when, Donald Trump might launch a military strike against the theocratic state.
Experts say the range of views in China reflects a long-standing willingness among Chinese people to debate international affairs.
"Chinese people are keen to express their views on major global events, big or small," Chen Jie, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Western Australia, told the ABC.
"For many years, they have actively commented on situations in Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine."
Dr Chen said some prominent pro-Beijing scholars in China had misjudged the likelihood of US action against Venezuela, badly damaging their credibility.
He said the government may have factored that into its approach to the Iran debate.
"I think the Chinese government has realised that, rather than tightly controlling discussion, it may be better to allow greater openness and let the public judge for themselves," he said.
"After all, no-one really knows what the United States will do."
Some experts also believe China's relatively relaxed approach to managing discussion of Iran reflects a "bystander mentality".
"The idea is that the fire is burning more fiercely outside than at home, and that people living in China should therefore feel quietly fortunate," Xia Ming, a professor of political science at the City University of New York, told the ABC.
Thinly veiled criticism
Dr Chen said the intensity of debate also reflected deeper anxieties about governance in China.
"Many netizens are asking what the situation in Iran means for China's own system of governance and for human rights," he said.
"People are trying to send warning signals to the Chinese government about political reform, repression and internet control."
He said scenes from Iran's streets may prompt Chinese citizens to reflect on their own country's history.
"Many of the protesters are young people, and they are bravely taking the brunt of the violence," he said.
"That has inevitably evoked memories among those who went into exile more than 30 years ago after the Tiananmen Square events."
Professor Xia shared a similar view, saying many Chinese citizens were likely to draw parallels between the protests in Iran and China's own context.
"Iran is different in form, but in terms of governance and power structures, there appear to be certain similarities," he said.
"Iran has at least retained nationwide elections, and opposition forces can participate in political competition. By contrast, China has never held a genuine nationwide election.
"In China's current environment, direct criticism of the existing power structure carries high risks.
"As a result, some people use discussion of Iran as a way of making thinly veiled criticism of domestic realities."
