The top diplomats from China and the US weighed in on the Israel-Hamas dispute, emphasizing the urgent need for de-escalation and the necessity for all sides to take action to halt the conflict’s spread. However, China warned against US support for Taiwan, insisting on non-interference in its internal affairs.
The top diplomats from China and the United States discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict in a call on Wednesday. Beijing and Washington expressed their agreement on the need to de-escalate the war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the imperative of all parties working to prevent the conflict from spreading, according to the US State Department.
In response, Beijing stated that Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the top priority regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas is to cease fire and end the war as soon as possible. Wang emphasized that major countries must adhere to fairness and justice, uphold objectivity and impartiality, demonstrate calm and rationality, and make every effort to cool the situation down and prevent larger-scale humanitarian disasters.
Wang reiterated Beijing’s calls for a two-state solution to the conflict, highlighting that any arrangement involving the future of Palestine must reflect the will of the Palestinian people. China expressed willingness to work with all parties to achieve this goal.
Secretary Blinken, who has recently visited the Middle East amid Israel’s campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip, urged China to use its influence to promote calm in the region. The two sides also discussed recent attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, with Blinken stating that these attacks pose an unacceptable threat to maritime security.
Both parties agreed to build on progress made on key issues during a summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month in California. As a result, military communications between the two countries were restored.
However, Wang warned Blinken against US support for the self-ruled island of Taiwan, claiming it as China’s territory and expressing the demand that the United States does not interfere in China’s internal affairs. Wang emphasized that the United States must not support or indulge any “Taiwan independence” forces.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
