A Chinese envoy has called on all relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency session on Sunday to discuss Iran’s retaliatory strike on Israel.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, the international community finds the humanitarian disaster in the enclave unacceptable and strongly demands an immediate ceasefire, said Dai Bing, the chargé d’affaires of China's permanent mission to the UN.
“There is deep concern about the exacerbation of regional tension and the complex and serious spillover effects caused by the prolonged conflict,” Dai stated during the session.
On April 1, Iran's diplomatic compound in Syria was subjected to an airstrike, resulting in multiple casualties among Iranian personnel and severe damage to the premises. The incident constituted a serious violation of the UN Charter and international law, infringing upon both Syrian and Iranian sovereignty, with extremely negative implications, Dai noted.
“The escalation of events that took place on Saturday has caused deep concern for China,” he said. “We call on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint and calmness, resolve differences and disputes in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, and avoid further escalation.”
Dai emphasized that the recent escalation underscores that the Palestinian issue lies at the core of the Middle East problem, which is crucial for the peace, stability, and long-term prosperity of the region.
“Allowing the Gaza conflict to continue unchecked will inevitably lead to further negative spillover effects and exacerbate instability in the region,” he warned. “Countries and people in the Middle East neither hope for nor can afford larger-scale conflicts and wars.”
“Therefore, the immediate priority is to effectively implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728 and achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” Dai urged. “The fundamental solution lies in the comprehensive implementation of the two-state solution to break out of the vicious cycle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. China calls on the international community, especially influential countries, to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.”
The emergency session was held at the request of Israel, at a time when the Israeli government is considering a counterattack against Iran.
Wang Jin, director of the Israel Research Center at Northwest University of China, told China Media Group that Iran's strike demonstrated its strategic resolve and exerted military pressure on Israel. However, Tehran has publicly announced the cessation of military actions following this round of strikes.
“Considering that Israel has not suffered significant human losses, the likelihood of further escalation between Israel and Iran is relatively limited,” Wang said.
Meanwhile, the United States has shown a strong desire to avoid escalating the situation. Despite assisting Israel in intercepting missiles and drones, it has not conducted large-scale military retaliation against Iran or its regional allies. The U.S. has also called on regional countries and the international community to engage in mediation and coordination to prevent further escalation of tensions, Wang explained.
“The likelihood of future escalation of the conflict is therefore probably relatively low,” he added. “But it cannot be ruled out that other uncertain factors may contribute to further escalation and spread of the conflict.”
