Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi has called on countries to form a “joint force” to resolve the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Addressing his counterparts in Jordan and Egypt, he said Beijing remains “steadfast” toward the Arab countries.
In a telephone conversation with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday, Wang stressed that a “complete and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza was crucial to prevent a deterioration of the regional situation.
According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, he added that the “international community should raise a more consistent voice … and form a joint force.”
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP knowledgeour new platform featuring carefully curated content with explanations, FAQs, analyses and infographics, brought to you by our award-winning team.
Wang said China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Jordan – seen as a key player in the Middle East – to push for a resumption of ceasefire negotiations.
“China will remain steadfast toward Arab countries, support all efforts to achieve a permanent and complete ceasefire in Gaza, prevent further escalation of conflicts and confrontations, and ensure that the situation in the Middle East improves as soon as possible.”
According to the lecture, Safadi noted that China takes an “objective and fair position” on the Israel-Palestine issue and said that Jordan “expects and believes that China will play a more important role in promoting a ceasefire and stopping the war.”
Safadi, who is also Jordan’s deputy prime minister, urged countries to take immediate action to prevent an escalation of the conflict and “ultimately achieve the independence of Palestine as a sovereign state through the two-state solution”.
Wang and Safadi’s call came shortly after the murder by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, who attributes Tehran to Israel and wants to attack in retaliation.
According to the statement, Safadi told the top Chinese diplomat that the killing further increased tensions in the region and described the situation as “very dangerous”.
Wang reiterated Beijing’s official condemnation of the killing, saying the attack had undermined the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Speaking to his Egyptian Addressing his counterpart Badr Abdelatty in a separate telephone conversation on Tuesday, Wang said the killing had brought the situation in the region to “a more dangerous climax.”
Wang said China “resolutely opposes and strongly condemns (actions) that violate the basic principles of the UN Charter, undermine Iran’s sovereignty and dignity, seriously undermine efforts to promote peace and make a ceasefire in Gaza increasingly difficult.”
“China will strengthen solidarity with Arab countries and work with all parties to prevent further escalation and deterioration of the situation,” he said, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Abdelatty said Egypt appreciates China’s “important role” in promoting peace in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Abdelatty urged the US to pressure Israel to “abandon its brinkmanship policy and seriously negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Since the start of the Gaza war last October, China has stepped up its efforts to play a greater role in Middle East diplomacy. Most recently, China brokered a pact to end divisions between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.
Wang said the agreement, signed last month, was an “important, historic moment in the Palestinian cause.” A Foreign Ministry statement called it a first step toward a “comprehensive, lasting and sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza.
China’s approach to the Middle East crisis has largely focused on pursuing a two-state solution and calling for a ceasefire. Israel has criticized Beijing’s lack of condemnation of the Hamas attack in October that sparked the war.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice covering China and Asia for over a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
