China urges US, Israel to stop military action in Middle East, warns of 'vicious cycle'
Why it matters: China's urgent warning signals escalating global concern over a conflict threatening economic stability and regional chaos.
- China urges the U.S. and Israel to cease military operations in the Middle East, with special envoy Zhai Jun stating, "The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it."
- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian cautions that continued use of force will lead to a "vicious cycle" and plunge the entire region into chaos, referencing the 23rd anniversary of the Iraq War as a lesson in profound suffering and instability.
- Analysts suggest that a prolonged Middle East conflict could significantly weaken global growth and reduce demand for Chinese exports, especially impacting vulnerable emerging markets.
- Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants if the key waterway, which carries a fifth of global oil and LNG, remains closed due to Iranian attacks.
- Goldman Sachs's Hui Shan highlights that weakening growth in China's emerging market trading partners will likely weigh on Chinese exports in the coming quarters, despite China's relative resilience to higher oil prices due to its energy mix and stockpiles.
China is urgently calling for a halt to military actions in the Middle East by the U.S. and Israel, warning that continued conflict risks a "vicious cycle" that could destabilize the entire region and undermine global economic growth, particularly impacting demand for Chinese exports. Beijing draws parallels to the devastating consequences of the 2003 Iraq War, emphasizing that military force only exacerbates suffering and chaos.
