As military clashes among the United States, Israel, and Iran push the Middle East situation to the brink of all-out war, Wang Yi, a Commissioner of the Communist Party of China Politburo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, launched all-out "telephone diplomacy" to mediate the crisis and showcase China's presence.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Wang, the Director General, said in a call on the 2nd arranged at the request of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that China "supports Iran's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and security, territorial integrity, and national dignity." While urging the United States and Israel to halt military actions immediately, Wang reaffirmed the principled position that the war must not spread across the Middle East.
Araghchi, the Minister, said, "The United States started the war while it was engaging in negotiations with Iran," arguing that this violated all international law and crossed Iran's "red line." Emphasizing that Iran has no choice but to defend itself with all its strength as a self-help measure, he asked China to continue to play a fair and positive role in easing regional tensions.
Wang, the Director General, then held back-to-back calls with Oman's Badr Al-Busaidi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of a neutral mediator state, and France's Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who emphasizes a diplomatic solution in Europe, asking for the international community's cooperation.
In the call with Oman's Minister Al-Busaidi, Wang, the Director General, said U.S. provocations violated the principles of the U.N. Charter, and in the call with France's Minister Barrot, he indirectly criticized the United States, saying, "Major powers must not revert to the 'law of the jungle,' arbitrarily attacking other countries on the basis of military superiority." The French side also noted that the latest U.S.–Israeli military action did not receive Security Council approval and conveyed expectations for China's role in easing tensions.
However, while expressing support for Iran's defense of its sovereignty, Wang, the Director General, avoided mentioning direct military assistance to Iran. Instead, he urged restraint in a both-sides manner, saying Iran should heed the reasonable concerns of neighboring countries and maintain internal stability.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China drew a line under allegations raised in some quarters that it sold supersonic anti-ship missiles to Iran, saying they were "not true," and gave a principled response on whether U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China at the end of this month, saying, "The leaders of the two countries are maintaining communication."