Military adventurism only pushes region into an unpredictable abyss, Chinese diplomat says at UNSC’s meeting on Iran
China’s Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Sun Lei speaks at a UN Security Council’s emergency meeting on Iran o January 15, 2026. Photo: VCG
Force cannot solve problems; it will only make them more complex and difficult. Any military adventurism will only push the region into an unpredictable abyss, a Chinese diplomat said at the UN Security Council (UNSC)’s emergency meeting on Iran on Thursday local time, who also called on the US to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abandon its fixation on the use of force, and urge all parties to exercise restraint and jointly play their due role in safeguarding world peace and security.Recently, the domestic situation in Iran has drawn widespread attention. China has noted that the Iranian Foreign Minister has already provided explanations on this matter in a letter to the UN Secretary-General. For some time now, the US has continued to speak out on the situation in Iran and has openly issued threats of the use of force against Iran, leading to gathering clouds of war over the Middle East and an increasingly tense atmosphere, Sun Lei, Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, said at the meeting, according to a readout from the mission.
China has consistently advocated upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, opposing the use or threat of force in international relations, opposing the imposition of one country’s will on others, and opposing any regression of the world to the “law of the jungle,” Sun said.
Sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are fundamental principles of international law and the most basic norms governing modern international relations, Sun added.
Iran is an independent sovereign state, and Iran’s affairs should be decided by the Iranian people themselves. China supports the safeguarding of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and calls on the international community to support the Iranian government and people in overcoming current difficulties and in maintaining national security and social stability, Sun said.
At present, the Middle East remains the most fragile region in the global security landscape, where the risks of turmoil and war remain persistently high. The people of the region are calling strongly for peace and yearning for development, Sun said.
China has noted the grave concerns of the vast majority of regional countries over military confrontation, as well as their sincere expectation for resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means. China hopes that the US and other relevant parties will heed the voices of the international community and regional countries, do more things conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East rather than the opposite, and that all countries will play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and ending conflict, avoiding the escalation of tensions or adding fuel to the fire, Sun added.
Calling for peace and seeking development are the shared aspirations of people in all countries, the Chinese diplomat said.
History has repeatedly shown that placing blind faith in the use of force, resorting solely to pressure, and engaging in reckless interference will only create more conflict and hatred. No country has the right to decide the fate of another, and no action that places itself above international law can be tolerated, Sun said.
We call on the international community to stand on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice, and to make unremitting efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East and to uphold world peace and tranquility, Sun added.
The US military is moving a carrier strike group to the Middle East region as tensions simmer over protests in Iran, according to a source familiar with the matter, CNN reported on Friday.
US President Donald Trump hasn’t removed any options for responding to Iran’s brutal crackdown on protests, the White House said, warning of “grave consequences” if the repression turns deadly, per CNN.
Global Times
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