China yesterday accused the US of “dangerous and irresponsible” behavior over its blockade of Iranian ports, with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) vowing Beijing would play a “constructive role” in promoting peace in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to sink ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas after peace talks between Washington and Tehran failed over the weekend.
The blockade came into force at 2pm GMT on Monday, despite the US and Iran agreeing to a fragile two-week ceasefire days earlier.
Photo: Reuters
“The US increased military deployments and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further jeopardize safety of passage through the Strait [of Hormuz],” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) told a news conference.
“This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior,” he added.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only vessels serving nations it deems friendly — such as China — to cross.
Speaking publicly about the war for the first time, Xi echoed those warnings, calling for the national sovereignty of nations in the Middle East and the Gulf to be “respected.”
Xi spoke as he met with Abu Dhabi Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing. He vowed China would continue to play a “constructive role” in promoting peace talks.
China also took a firm stance against Trump’s threats to impose new tariffs on Chinese products entering the US following reports Beijing was supplying or intends to supply weapons to Iran.
Trump — who is scheduled to visit Beijing next month for talks with Xi — on Sunday said that he would hit China’s goods with a 50 percent tariff if it provided military assistance to Tehran.
Guo said those reports were “completely fabricated.”
“If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures,” he said.
China is welcoming a string of leaders from nations impacted by the Middle East conflict in Beijing this week.
Vietnamese President To Lam and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov also touched down in the Chinese capital yesterday, hoping to boost cooperation on the conflict, as well as bilateral issues.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also visiting Beijing this week for a trip largely focused on bilateral trade ties.
Sanchez told reporters yesterday that China can play an “important role” in the Middle East, while Xi warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in international relations, state media reported.
“Both China and Spain are principled countries that stand for justice. They should strengthen communication, consolidate mutual trust and cooperate closely to oppose the world’s regression to the law of the jungle,” Xi said during their meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
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