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China’s top diplomat condemned the war in the Middle East on Sunday and called on the United States to manage its differences with Beijing.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the conflict, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, should not have occurred.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing during China’s annual political gathering known as the “Two Sessions,” Wang said the war “should never have happened.”
“A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,” he said.
Wang also condemned the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and criticized the military strikes carried out by the U.S. and Israel.
Wang said relations between China and the United States remain strained since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year and the two countries imposed tariffs on each other’s goods.
“We observe certain countries erecting tariff barriers and pursuing decoupling and supply chain disruption,” Wang said.
“These actions are akin to trying to extinguish a fire with fuel. Ultimately, they will backfire and harm themselves.”
While China and the United States “cannot change each other,” Wang said they could change how they interact.
He urged both sides to “create a suitable environment, manage existing differences, and eliminate unnecessary interference.”
Wang also addressed other international issues, including tensions in the South China Sea, the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia.
He said China’s ties with Moscow remain “steadfast and unshakeable.”
The foreign minister also spoke about relations with Europe, saying more European leaders see China as a global partner.
“We welcome our European friends to step out of the ‘small attic’ of protectionism and come to the ‘gym’ of the Chinese market,” Wang said.
China has introduced visa-free travel agreements with about 50 countries, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and has reduced tariffs for exports from Canada and the United Kingdom.
Wang also warned Japan over Taiwan, saying Beijing “will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan… from China once again.”
He said the Taiwan issue is “at the heart of China’s core interests” and described it as “a red line that must not be crossed or trampled on.”
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