Washington – The Wall Street Journal has revealed that the recent military confrontation between the United States and Iran has granted Washington’s adversaries—primarily China, Russia, and North Korea—a golden, unprecedented opportunity to observe U.S. military performance firsthand. Obviously, by May 2026, the battlefield is no longer just a regional conflict but has transformed into an “open military academy” where superpowers study Washington’s tactics and identify gaps in American defense and offense systems.
“Under the Microscope”: How China Monitors Western Tech in the Gulf?
The report clarified that China is paying special attention to how U.S. forces handle Iranian weaponry, which relies heavily on Chinese-related technologies. Accordingly, Beijing seeks to analyze Washington’s ability to protect its Gulf bases against low-cost missile and drone attacks. Clearly, Chinese military leaders view this war as a “real-world rehearsal” for any future conflict, testing the effectiveness of their technology against advanced Western military evolution.
“The Stockpile Crisis”: Russia and North Korea Exploit the “Attrition Gap”
The report highlighted the Pentagon’s concern over the rapid consumption of U.S. munitions—a detail Moscow is monitoring closely to strengthen its own international positions. As a result, the challenges of rapid production have emerged as a significant vulnerability that could take years to rectify. Meanwhile, North Korea sees Iran’s resilience as a “lesson in deterrence,” viewing nuclear weapons as the only guarantee against similar scenarios, exploiting Washington’s preoccupation with the Middle East to bolster its own program.
