China on Tuesday stated that the use of military force by the United States, Israel, and Iran has proven ineffective in resolving any issues, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions to disputes. The ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has persisted for over three months, has severely impacted Gulf region nations, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
China's Stance on Military Action
Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing, "Facts have proven military means cannot solve any problem and arbitrary use of force will only complicate the issues." He made these remarks in response to reports of Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, despite US pressure on Tel Aviv to avoid strikes.
Iran-US Negotiations at a Critical Stage
Lin highlighted that the Iran-US negotiations are at a crucial stage, urging all parties to refrain from reigniting military conflict. He called for respect for the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Middle Eastern nations. "China calls on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, stop any confrontational action that may escalate the conflict, take concrete action to cool down the situation, resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, and work for an early comprehensive and lasting ceasefire," he said.
Escalation and Retaliation
Beijing's comments come amid potential strain in US-Israel relations. US President Donald Trump had called on Israel not to retaliate against Iranian missile strikes on Sunday, a demand that was ignored. Tensions escalated when Israel bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut late Sunday despite an ongoing ceasefire, prompting Iran to launch missiles toward northern Israel. Israel then carried out several waves of airstrikes against Iran, with Tehran responding with additional missile launches. The two sides later halted the retaliatory strikes.
