11.03.2026 11:52
As the risk of the ongoing war between the US-Israel and Iran spreading to the region increases, a new statement has come from China. The Beijing administration announced that it does not approve of Iran's attacks targeting Gulf countries, which endanger civilians and non-military facilities. This statement made by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun has garnered significant attention.
As the risk of the ongoing war between the US and Israel and Iran spreading to the region increases day by day, international actors continue to make statements one after another. Most recently, the Chinese government made a striking statement regarding Iran's attacks targeting Gulf countries.
UNEXPECTED WARNING Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the recent developments in the Gulf region during a press conference. Guo emphasized that they do not approve of attacks that endanger civilians and non-military facilities, stating that such actions seriously threaten regional security.
Although spokesperson Guo Jiakun did not directly mention Iran in his statement, he sent a clear message regarding the recent attacks targeting Gulf countries. Guo stated that targeting civilians and critical infrastructure is unacceptable and expressed that all parties should avoid steps that would escalate tensions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun TENSIONS RISING IN THE GULF REGION Following the operations targeting Iran's military and nuclear facilities by the US and Israel, Iran had also launched retaliatory attacks on some military bases and strategic points in the region. The fact that some of these attacks affected areas close to certain Gulf countries has increased regional security concerns.
While many strategic facilities and energy infrastructure in Gulf countries are under high security measures, some countries have activated their air defense systems. The growing tension in the Gulf region, which is critical for energy markets and global trade, is being closely monitored by the world public.
CALL FROM BEIJING TO DEESCALATE TENSIONS The Chinese government, in its statement, called for restraint from all parties, indicating that attacks targeting civilians could further jeopardize regional stability. The Beijing administration also expressed its concerns about the conflicts in the Middle East turning into a broader war.
According to experts, this statement from China is seen as an indication of both the importance it places on energy security in the Gulf and the concern that conflicts in the region could affect global economic balances.
WHY IS CHINA INTERVENING? There are several important reasons for China's intervention in this matter. The most fundamental reason is energy and trade security. China is one of the world's largest oil importers, and a significant portion of this oil comes from Gulf countries. When the Iran-US-Israel tension threatens oil facilities, ports, and shipping routes in the Gulf, it directly affects the Chinese economy. For this reason, the Beijing administration shows that it does not want the escalation of tensions by making statements against attacks in the region.
Another reason is the desire to increase its political influence in the Middle East. In recent years, China has been conducting more active diplomacy in the region. For example, in 2023, China acted as a mediator in the diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Therefore, Beijing is trying to play a "balancing power" role in regional crises.
China also has close economic and strategic relations with Iran. Iran holds an important position in China's "Belt and Road" project, and there are long-term energy and infrastructure agreements between the two countries. However, China also has strong trade ties with Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. For this reason, Beijing generally prefers to make balanced statements condemning attacks targeting civilians without taking sides.
Finally, China wants to be seen as a diplomatic alternative power against the US's military influence in the Middle East. For this reason, it does not want the war to escalate and calls for "de-escalation" at every opportunity.