China Positions Itself as ‘Mediator’ After US Strikes on Iran, Dispatches Special Envoy for Peace

"China Will Continue to Play a Constructive Role for Peace"
Back-to-Back Calls with UAE and Saudi Foreign Ministers

As war engulfs the entire Middle East in flames, China is positioning itself as a “peace mediator,” dispatching a special envoy to the region.

Wang Yi, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Yonhap News

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister, held separate phone conversations on March 4 with the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. He stated that “China is always willing to continue playing a constructive role as part of efforts for peace.” However, he did not disclose the envoy’s specific mission or detailed schedule.

During these calls, Minister Wang stressed that any attacks on innocent civilians or non-military facilities must be condemned. In his conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, he emphasized, “The ‘red line’ of civilian protection must never be crossed, and non-military targets such as energy, economic, and civilian facilities should never be targeted.” He added, “The safety of maritime transportation routes must be ensured.”

In his call with Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, he further stated, “China absolutely does not want to see the conflict spread to Saudi Arabia or the Gulf states,” and added, “No matter the justification, the reckless use of force cannot be tolerated.”

Minister Wang strongly urged “all parties involved in the Iran war to halt military operations and swiftly return to the table for dialogue and negotiations to prevent further escalation of tensions.”

Previously, Minister Wang had held phone conversations with the Iranian Foreign Minister on March 2, followed by back-to-back calls with the foreign ministers of France and Oman on March 3. In these discussions, he exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and called on the United States and Israel to immediately cease military actions.

Chinese state media, including the Global Times, assessed that these actions demonstrate China’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic mediation.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has urged all parties to the Iran war to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the large-scale airstrikes by the United States and Israel on February 28 and subsequent retaliatory attacks by Iran, the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for global energy—has currently been suspended.

As the world’s largest importer of oil and gas, China is among the most vulnerable countries in the current crisis. Although its oil reserves are sufficient, nearly half of the crude oil imported in December last year passed through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting China’s heavy dependence on the region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.