China has raised its tone on Tuesday towards the United States, calling the blockade of Iranian ports “dangerous and irresponsible,” while presenting itself as an active protagonist in efforts to resolve the crisis during a day of intense diplomatic activity in Beijing.
Beijing also warned that China would take “firm countermeasures” if the United States imposed additional tariffs on it due to suspicions of military aid supply to Iran.
At the same time, Beijing positioned itself as a defender of international law and the sovereignty of Middle Eastern states, stating readiness to continue playing a “constructive” role for peace.
Beijing’s heightened tone comes after the US maritime blockade against Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman took effect the day before. Tehran denounced it as an “illegal” act of “piracy.”
According to analysis company Kpler, over half of China’s crude oil imports by sea came from the Middle East last year and mostly passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, Iran allocated over 80% of its oil exports to China, according to Kpler.
The American blockade “will only exacerbate tensions, weaken a fragile ceasefire agreement, and further compromise security in the strait,” said Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior,” he emphasized at a regular press briefing.
He also strongly reacted to reports in the American press that China had delivered or was about to deliver military equipment to Iran.
US President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday to impose 50% tariffs on Chinese goods.
Guo Jiakun once again described the information as “fabricated.” He warned that China would take “firm countermeasures if the US persists in using this pretext to impose additional tariffs on China.
Earlier in the day, President Xi Jinping implicitly criticized US operations during a meeting in Beijing with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Preserving the authority of international law should not mean using it when it suits us and rejecting it when it does not. We cannot allow the world to return to the law of the jungle,” Xi told his guest, as reported by state media.
China hosted a series of foreign leaders on Tuesday, all affected in various ways by the events in the Middle East, even if they were not announced as the primary purpose of their visit.
In addition to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Vietnamese President To Lam, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were present – one of the leading Western voices opposing the US and Israeli war against Iran.
“Truly necessary”
China and Russia are partners of Iran and rivals of the United States.
China has been cautious in its support for Tehran, careful not to jeopardize its close relations with Gulf Arab countries, with which it has significantly deepened its economic and diplomatic cooperation over the past decade.
Despite the discretion on the details of its actions, China’s diplomacy has been attributed an important role in the current ceasefire and in hosting talks that failed between Iran and the United States in Pakistan.
Xi Jinping told Abu Dhabi’s crown prince that China would “continue to play a constructive role” in restarting talks.
The Chinese president expressed similar sentiments to Pedro Sanchez.
China and Spain must “cooperate closely to oppose the return of the world to the law of the jungle,” Xi argued.
“China can play an important role” in resolving the conflict, and its efforts are “truly necessary,” Mr. Sanchez said during a press conference.
On the other hand, the Russian Foreign Minister arrived in China on Tuesday for a two-day visit, during which the two powers will “coordinate” on current international issues according to Beijing.
