Wang Yi Calls for Dialogue and Justice in Addressing Middle East Conflicts

During a joint press conference in Paris with his French counterpart, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, voiced criticism of the principle of "might makes right." He questioned the place of rules and justice in such a framework. Wang stated that true peace cannot be achieved through strength, as it could potentially unleash unforeseen consequences. He further inquired about the position of weaker nations, particularly small and medium-sized countries, under such a system, asking if they would be left vulnerable.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, was in Europe from June 30 to July 6. His visit was at the invitation of various European officials. Responding to inquiries about China's perspective on the Iran nuclear issue and the broader Middle East situation, Wang highlighted the potential of the Iran nuclear issue as a model for resolving international disputes through dialogue. However, he noted that it has instead triggered a new crisis in the Middle East.

Wang reiterated China's consistent stance on the Iran nuclear issue, emphasizing China's respect for Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and its right to peaceful nuclear energy use. He urged relevant parties to expedite negotiations to reach a new international agreement, placing Iran's nuclear activities under strict international supervision. He stressed that the path to peace requires sincere efforts from all parties involved.

The Chinese foreign minister cautioned against repeating military conflicts between Israel and Iran, asserting that war cannot resolve the nuclear issue and that preemptive strikes lack legitimacy. He warned that excessive force would only escalate conflict and breed animosity, citing the dangerous precedent set by the US's actions. Wang also emphasized that the Palestinian question is the core issue in the Middle East and must be addressed to achieve a genuine resolution of the Iran nuclear issue. He called for an end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and for the fulfillment of the legitimate aspirations of the Arab nation.

Wang stated that the "two-state solution" remains the only viable path to resolving the Middle East conflict and called for more concrete international action to support this goal. He urged China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, to uphold justice, support conflict resolution through dialogue, oppose double standards, and base their positions on the merits of each case. He affirmed China's willingness to collaborate with France to achieve these goals.