Hong Kong
CNN
–
Last week’s unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran has sparked a swirling conflict between the two enemy nations, which has seen the opportunity to gain the status of a potential peace broker.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took up the mission over the weekend and spoke on separate phone calls with both Iran and Israeli counterparts. There, Wang sparked the latest conflict and settled China’s offer to “play a constructive role.”
“China explicitly condemns Israel’s violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
China’s self-descriptive “explicit” opposition to Israeli attacks has refused to condemn Beijing, as it strengthened its close ties with Moscow, in contrast to the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It also highlights the hardening of the geopolitical line that opposed China against the United States through many global issues.
Israel launched air attacks early Friday targeting Iran’s nuclear, missile and military complexes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was an operation to “roll back” Iran’s threat to its country’s survival.
Since then, multiple waves of lethal attacks fired by both sides in days have increased the number of casualties and increased the risk of a wider regional fire that could involve the United States, which has previously supported Israeli defense against the onslaught.
In Beijing’s eyes, all this gives a candid reason for conflicts unfolding in parts of the world that have worked steadily to enhance their own economic and diplomatic shaking, but experts say their weight as a power broker remains limited.
For one, Beijing sees an opportunity to further expand its influence as the Trump administration’s “America First” policy has shaken up the traditional US position on the international stage. That is especially true in the context of countries in the global southern part of which Israel is under severe criticism for its continued attack on Gaza.
Beijing is also an important diplomatic and economic supporter of Iran, and has moved to further collaboration in recent years despite trying to balance the growth of relations with countries like Saudi Arabia, including retaining the joint naval drill. Chinese officials have long voiced opposition to US sanctions on Iran and criticised the US’s withdrawal from Iran’s nuclear deal in 2015, but accused Washington of being a source of instability and tension in the region.
The king set his target on the US on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart, saying that, according to the reading of the Chinese call, “it is also urging countries that are urging China to make concrete efforts to restore peace.”
“China is ready to maintain communication with Iran and other related parties and continues to play a constructive role in eliminating the situation,” he added.
Speaking to Israeli foreign minsitter Gideon Sar on Saturday, the king said China “urged both Israel and Iran to resolve differences through dialogue,” and “China is willing to play a constructive role in supporting these efforts,” the Chinese reading said.
Beijing rarely sees the benefits of deepening tensions in energy-dependent regions. For example, he played a surprising role in 2023 in promoting a diplomatic reconciliation between the archbishop of Saudi Arabia and Iran and Iran.
Despite Washington lawmakers warning them of deepening the “axis” between China, Iran, Russia and North Korea, the role Beijing can play in resolving the current conflict, including how much leverage Beijing has over Tehran, is unclear.
China remains Iran’s largest energy buyer, but has not reported Iran’s first purchase of oil in official customs data since 2022, analysts said. This year, the US has approved a handful of Chinese companies for their suspected role in Iran’s oil trade, and Chinese-made chemicals needed to produce missile fuel have been delivered to Iran in recent months, CNN reports show.
However, when it comes to managing this escalation direction of established regional conflicts, both players in the Middle East and the US who play a key role in regional security could ultimately foster that effort.
Trump posted on social media on Sunday that Iran and Israel would “take a deal,” adding that “many phone calls and meetings” were “currently taking place” without providing details.
However, the US president also suggested that another potential leader could have a role in broker peace: Vladimir Putin said Trump discussed the escalating situation on Saturday.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump said that he was open to Russian leaders, whose troops invaded Ukraine and resisted the ceasefire that mediated the US in the conflict and served as a mediator.
“I’m going to be open to that,” Trump said. Putin said, “I’m ready.”