China has called for an immediate ceasefire and renewed diplomatic engagement to end the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as fighting involving Israel and the United States against Iran and Lebanon stretched into a third day.
Speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the priority must be to halt hostilities and prevent a wider regional spillover.
“The most urgent task is an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing a spread and spillover of conflict,” Mao said, stressing the need for “a resolution through dialogue and negotiation.”
Mao confirmed that one Chinese citizen was killed in Tehran amid the ongoing strikes, where Israeli and US forces are conducting operations that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
“The foreign ministry has instructed the Chinese embassy in Iran to provide assistance to the individual involved and the family,” she said, without disclosing further details.
China also revealed it was not informed in advance of the US military action. Mao added that Beijing, alongside Russia, has called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to address the crisis.
Last week, Beijing warned its citizens against travelling to Iran “in light of the current security situation.” As of Monday, more than 3,000 Chinese nationals had left the country, according to official figures.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have vowed to carry out what they described as the “most ferocious” operation in history against Israel and US bases. Several of those bases are located in Gulf countries already grappling with the fallout from an unprecedented wave of Iranian strikes.
The crisis comes as US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China from this month ending till next month marking his first trip to the Asian power during his second term.
Asked about the visit, Mao said Beijing and Washington were “maintaining communication regarding the interactions between the leaders of the two countries,” declining to provide further details.
