On April 10, IIAS held the inaugural session of the Tsinghua Area Studies Academic Salon. The event, titled “The Limits of Spear and Shield: Observations on the U.S.–Israel–Iran Full-Spectrum Conflict,” was delivered by Dr Yang Guang, Assistant Professor at IIAS, and moderated by Dr Wang Tao, Assistant Professor. Dozens of faculty members and students from both within and outside the University participated in the discussion.
Scene from the Salon
Focusing on the outbreak of the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict on 28 February 2026, Yang Guang traced the evolution of U.S.–Iran relations from 1953 to the present, and provided a detailed review of the escalation trajectory from the Iran–Israel tensions in 2024 to the outbreak of full-scale war in 2026. He further analysed the challenges posed by Iran’s hypersonic missile technology to the multi-layered air defence systems of Israel and the United States. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, he noted that the significantly lower production cost of Iranian missiles compared to interception costs places Israel under severe pressure in a prolonged war of attrition. The conflict has already spread across the wider West Asian region, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has had a profound impact on global oil prices and the world economy, potentially triggering a major oil crisis.
Yang Guang delivering the presentation
During the discussion session, Yang Guang shared insights from his fieldwork experiences in Israel and Jordan, reflecting on the challenges of conducting research in conflict zones. He emphasised that scholars of area studies should develop a strong “sense of field presence” and seek to understand both the historical logic and contemporary concerns of the countries they study.
Discussion with faculty and students
In his concluding remarks, Wang Tao noted that the salon highlighted the unique value of research on asymmetric conflicts. He pointed out that area studies requires not only macro-level theoretical perspectives but also rigorous fieldwork and empirical analysis.
The Tsinghua Area Studies Academic Salon will be held regularly, aiming to bring together early-career scholars and foster interdisciplinary dialogue on frontier issues, thereby contributing to the development of an independent knowledge system for area studies in China.
