China Urges Israel to Halt Attacks on Iran, Warns of Wider Conflict

BEIJING, March 3 (Reuters) – In a tense diplomatic exchange, China has publicly demanded Israel and the United States cease their military campaign against Iran, framing the conflict as a threat to regional stability and global energy supplies.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered the message directly to Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar during a phone call on Tuesday, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. "The use of force is not a solution; it is a generator of new, more intractable problems," Wang was quoted as saying. "The true worth of military might is measured not in battles won, but in wars prevented."

The call comes amid a sharp global downturn triggered by explosions in Tehran and Beirut, with investors fearing a protracted disruption to oil supplies from the Gulf. Analysts suggest Beijing's forceful intervention reflects its growing role as a diplomatic counterweight and its significant economic stakes in Middle Eastern energy corridors.

Wang reiterated China's stance that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable paths to resolve the crisis, pledging that Beijing would "continue to play a constructive and stabilizing role." This appeal forms part of a concerted Chinese diplomatic offensive, following a series of calls on Monday with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman, and France. In those conversations, Wang urged regional solidarity against "external interference."

Notably, the Chinese foreign minister has yet to speak with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio since the onset of strikes over the weekend—strikes that reportedly resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This communication gap underscores the deepening diplomatic fissure between Washington and Beijing over the conflict.

Voices from the Region

Reuters spoke to several observers for their reaction:

Dr. Aris Thorne, a geopolitical risk analyst based in London, offered a measured view: "China's statement is a strategic positioning. It aligns with its principle of non-interference while protecting its Belt and Road investments. It's a call for de-escalation, but also a clear bid for diplomatic leadership."

Maya Chen, a commodities trader in Singapore, expressed market fears: "The volatility is crippling. Every headline sends Brent crude swinging by $5. The world needs stability, not another open-ended war in the Strait of Hormuz. China's push for a ceasefire is what the global economy desperately needs."

David Feld, a former security advisor now with a D.C. think tank, reacted sharply: "This is hypocritical posturing from Beijing. They talk peace while their allies fuel regional proxies. Wang Yi's 'constructive role' rings hollow when China has done little to actually restrain Tehran's actions over the years. It's cheap diplomacy at the expense of Western security."

Leila Al-Hadad, a journalist in Beirut, focused on the human cost: "The explosions here are not just market shocks; they are tragedies. When major powers clash, it's our cities that burn. Any call to stop the fighting, from any quarter, should be amplified. The alternative is unthinkable."