China Urges US to Play Constructive Role in Middle East
In a recent phone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China urged the United States to play “a constructive role” in the Middle East. The call came after growing concerns of retaliation by Iran following an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
During the call, Blinken asked Beijing to use its influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel. Wang expressed China’s strong condemnation of the attack and emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty of Iran and Syria. China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed the call and stated that China will continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Middle East issue.
Iran’s clerical leadership has vowed to strike back after the attack, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Islamic Republic’s elite Revolutionary Guards. The United States has been urging China to do more to address the crisis, including putting pressure on Iran, which supports Hamas.
Amidst the escalating tensions, Beijing has criticized the United States for being biased toward Israel. Mao called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and emphasized the importance of putting the conflict to rest as soon as possible.
Despite the tensions, President Joe Biden reiterated the US’s “ironclad” support for Israel’s security, while also expressing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct of the war in Gaza. The situation in the Middle East remains tense, with China calling for all parties to work towards de-escalation and peace.