China raising the stakes after a month and a half of conflict? President Xi Jinping reacted to developments in the Middle East war on Tuesday, April 14, during a meeting with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Khaled ben Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane. “Preserving the authority of international law should not mean using it when it suits us, and rejecting it when it does not,” criticized the leader, two days after Donald Trump announced the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran claimed on Friday to have “completely opened” it for the rest of the ceasefire.
Diplomatically, at the onset of the war, Chinese diplomacy quickly denounced the first Israeli-American strikes against Tehran, denouncing “a violation of international law.” The death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, “constitutes a serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security,” adding that it calls for respect for the “fundamental standards governing international relations.”
By defending “the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all Gulf countries,” Beijing shows “timid support” towards its Iranian partner, according to Marc Julienne, director of the Asia Center at Ifri.
Staying neutral in the conflict between Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran, China presented a five-point plan with Pakistan at the end of March to “restore peace and stability” in the Middle East, urging the belligerents to immediately cease hostilities, start peace negotiations, and ensure the security of civilian infrastructure, among other things.
China’s mediator image is also explained by its significant and diverse economic interests in the Middle East, from Iran to the Gulf countries. “Having good relations with each party is the key for China in the Middle East. Preserving this is important for Beijing,” said Marc Julienne.
In response to Trump’s naval blockade, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denounced the action as “dangerous and irresponsible,” showing China’s dissatisfaction with its rival’s move.
China is “undergoing this situation,” notes Marc Julienne, with consequences on the domestic front as “the price of oil has increased.”
The United States, on the other hand, seem determined not to let China act in the background. Sources close to intelligence services told CNN that Beijing intends to sell weapons to Iran to combat American and Israeli troops.
Trump wrote to Xi Jinping demanding not to go in this direction, to which his counterpart assured him that “this is not what he is doing.” Two days earlier, Guo Jiakun had rejected as “baseless slander” and “malicious accusations.”
Marc Julienne remains “very cautious” about what would be a “significant change” from China’s part.
