Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

The current fighting is a war that should never have happened and does no one any good, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Wednesday, citing remarks of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when asked to further elaborate on China's position on the Iran situation and its efforts to help de-escalate tensions and how to view the next development of the situation. 

Over the past two days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had respectively held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan and Qatar to exchange views on the Iran situation as regional tensions have continued to intensify. 

Guo said Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently continued diplomatic mediation on the Iran situation and again communicated with foreign ministers of regional countries by phone, working to promote peace and stop the fighting and help cool down the situation. 

Guo said that the US and Israel, without UN authorization and while Iran-US negotiations were still underway, launched a military attack on Iran, which clearly violates international law. The sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected.

Guo said China does not support attacks on Gulf countries and condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets, and urges an immediate halt to military operations to prevent further escalation. The way to break the deadlock lies in returning to dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible and striving to restore peace. The fundamental solution is to return to the track of abiding by international law and the basic norms governing international relations. From the first day the war broke out, China has called for a ceasefire, stopping the fighting and returning to dialogue and negotiation, and has consistently advocated a political settlement.

Guo also said that the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue is currently conducting shuttle visits in the region. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a sincere friend of Middle East countries, China will never stop striving for peace, and its voice in safeguarding fairness and justice will never be late.

China will continue to strengthen communication with all relevant parties, including the parties to the conflict, and play a constructive role in easing tensions and restoring peace, Guo said. 


Global Times