Beijing – In a powerful demonstration of a divergent, global perspective, China strongly condemned Israel’s recent attack on unprovoked Iran, naming them military adventurism. The condemnation has led the US to openly praise the attacks, and President Donald Trump calls the airstrikes “good” and further fosters tensions in the already volatile West Asia (the Middle East).
On Friday, the permanent representative of the United Nations, Fu Cong, called for Israel to immediately suspend its offensive military campaign and attended an emergency security council meeting. “The sudden escalation in this region is of no use to anyone’s interests. We urge Israel to halt all military adventurism and avoid further escalation tensions,” warned Hu.
He went on to describe Israel’s actions as a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. “This kind of provocation runs the risk of widening conflict and causing serious consequences,” Fu added.
This position was echoed by Lin Jiang, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He repeated China’s firm opposition to any action that violated Iran’s sovereignty and contributed to regional instability. China’s stance reflects a broader foreign policy approach. It is to promote diplomacy, dialogue and compliance with international law. This is the principle that led to its involvement with the Middle East issue, including mediating Iran-Saudi settlements and calling for unity between Palestinian factions.
Professor Wang Wen: The overwhelming majority of Chinese people are in solidarity with Iran against foreign attacks and hegemony that emphasizes this approach, Professor Wang Wen, dean of China’s Seizi Institute, and dean of the Faculty of Global Leadership at Linmin University, China, shared insights with the Tehran Times from the current Christis perspective.
“Both the Chinese government and the Chinese have expressed strong dissatisfaction with Israel’s aggressive foreign policy over the past two years,” Wang said. “My colleagues and across social media in China have unanimous support for the measures Iran has taken to protect the integrity of its territory and national sovereignty.”
Earlier on Friday, Israel launched a surprising airstrike targeting Iran’s residential areas, military facilities and nuclear infrastructure, killing dozens of people, including top military leaders and nuclear scientists, and wounding hundreds more.
Iran responded that day with a coordinated missile strike at Israeli military locations, causing serious damage and casualties.
“I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of Chinese people are in solidarity with Iran against foreign attacks and hegemony,” Wang emphasized. “We deeply empathize with the way Iran has been systematically demonized by the US and Israel over the years. The important thing right now is to stick to our resistance. We will maintain both courage and perseverance in this struggle.
As global responses to the conflict split along geopolitical lines, Chinese media has provided extensive coverage, reflecting Beijing’s growing concern over an escalation of hostility.
Looking ahead, Professor Wang reiterated China’s commitment to stability in the region. “China has consistently mediated peace efforts in the Middle East, particularly promoting Iran-Saudi reconciliation (March 2023) and Palestine unity (July 2024). We have always expressed strong support for regional peace and stability,” he said. “Now China will continue to stand with Iran for that good reason. Iran remains strong!”
As tensions grow, the sharp contrast between China’s calls for restraint and US support for Israel’s military attacks underscores deeper global disparities. Today, the international community faces a vital choice. It risks further confusion by defending the path of diplomacy and mutual respect, allowing China to defend it or enable unidentified use of force to threaten the foundations of international law.