China is finally reporting protests in Iran. Not because it cares about Iranians, but because Ali Khamenei may no longer be useful.
Chinese state media does not suddenly discover protests by accident. When the coverage flips, it is a disposal phase. The framing is familiar: leader versus people, hoarded privilege versus public welfare, moral decay at the top. Same script used on Lin Biao when he outlived his usefulness.
In Chinese political logic, allies are tools. When a tool is worn out, it is reframed, discarded, and denied.
If you are wondering whether Iran’s supreme leader has become a used condom to China, watch the narrative. Beijing is already taking it off.