China Demands Unobstructed Energy Flows Amid Middle East Conflict
China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing that "energy security is of great importance to the global economy, and all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and smooth energy supplies."
The situation deteriorated sharply after QatarEnergy suspended LNG output Monday, a direct consequence of drone attacks on two of its key installations. Iran simultaneously announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil transits — compounding fears of a severe global energy shock. China, the world's second-largest economy and a primary buyer of Qatari LNG, faces acute exposure to the disruption.
Beijing called on all parties to stand down immediately. Mao said China "urges all sides to immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation of tensions, safeguard the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and avoid causing greater impacts on the global economy."
The crisis was ignited Saturday when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside 786 others. Tehran retaliated swiftly, directing drone and missile strikes at US-linked targets across Gulf states, killing six American service members and wounding numerous others.
China publicly condemned Khamenei's killing, though Beijing simultaneously pressed Tehran to exercise restraint. In a phone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Beijing urged Iran to "take seriously the legitimate concerns of neighboring countries."
Mao sharpened China's rebuke of Washington and Tel Aviv, asserting that joint US-Israeli military actions "violate international law and the basic norms of international relations, leading to a sudden escalation of the situation in the Middle East."
On Iran's nuclear ambitions, Mao said Beijing holds "high concern" and reaffirmed its position calling for a "peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation" — while adding that China "respects" Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy use.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
