- China has refused to condemn the Iranian missile attack on Israel.
- It is a customer of Iranian oil and has pledged to deepen its ties.
- China is seeking to position itself as a key power in the region.
China has refused to condemn the Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel, as it seeks to position itself as a key player in the Middle East.
A readout of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday, reported by Chinese state media, called the attack an act of self-defense.
The statement was notable because it contained no condemnation of the Iranian attack on Israel on Saturday.
It was the first time Iran launched a direct strike against Israel, a move that intensified fears that the region was on the brink of an escalation of conflict.
Amir-Abdollahian reportedly told Wang that following the April 1 Israeli attack on the Israeli consulate in Damascus, Syria, “Iran has the right to defend itself in response to the violation of its sovereignty.”
“China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, considering it a serious violation of international law and unacceptable,” the statement said.
“China took note of Iran’s statement that its action was limited and constituted an act of self-defense in response to the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, Wang said.”
In recent years, China has abandoned its policy of non-interference in foreign affairs and seeks to position itself as a power broker in the Middle East.
Last year, China negotiated a rapprochement between its long-time regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia in a bold diplomatic move.
Analysts say one of China’s main interests in the region is to undermine American influence. He criticized US ally Israel’s campaign in Gaza and forged closer ties with US regional foe Iran.
China is also a major customer of Iranian oil and last year Chinese leader Xi Jinping said he wanted to deepen ties with Iran after meeting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Beijing.
The alleged Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate on April 1 killed seven people, including senior Iranian commanders, and raised fears of a direct war between Israel and Iran.
The two countries have long waged a war in the shadows, with Iran supporting Palestinian militant groups and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in their war against Israel. But the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and the subsequent Israeli campaign in Gaza sharply increased tensions in the region.
Western leaders have condemned Iranian missile strikes against Israel, but urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be moderate in his response. The United States has sought to engage China to help prevent a larger regional war, the State Department said.
In the statement, China praised Iran for acting with restraint in its response to the attack on the Israeli embassy.
“China appreciates Iran’s emphasis on not targeting regional and neighboring countries as well as its reiteration on continuously pursuing a policy of good neighborliness and friendship,” it said. the statement, quoting Wang.
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