While the United States has enforced a maritime blockade on Iran, China has stressed the need for free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to the developments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said safeguarding stability and ensuring uninterrupted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is in the shared interest of the global community.
He also reacted to Washington’s warning of tariffs if Beijing is found supplying arms to Iran, saying trade wars benefit no one and reiterating China’s long-standing position against such measures. “China’s position is very clear: tariff wars have no winners,” he said, as cited by Global Times.
The tensions come ahead of a likely visit by Trump to Beijing in mid-May for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, originally expected earlier in April, was postponed after Trump said he needed to remain in Washington to monitor the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Earlier this month, China again underlined its role in promoting stability in the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing remains committed to encouraging dialogue and the peaceful resolution of tensions. Her remarks followed claims by Trump that China had helped bring Iran to the negotiating table during recent diplomatic efforts.
At the same time, diplomatic activity between Beijing and Moscow is set to continue, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov scheduled to visit China for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Discussions are expected to cover bilateral ties as well as key regional and global issues.
(With inputs from ANI)