BEIJING — China’s ties with countries such as Iran and Russia have raised expectations of a bigger diplomatic role, but Beijing remains focused on protecting its own domestic interests, including global exports.
That stance underpins Beijing’s circumspect acknowledgment of reports that it pushed Iran toward this week’s temporary ceasefire. A New York Times report cited three Iranian officials as saying China played a role, while AFP cited U.S. President Donald Trump.
China has made “active efforts” to end the conflict, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday, when asked by the press about the reports. She emphasized that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had made 26 phone calls to representatives of countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Iran since the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28.
But Beijing stopped short of confirming direct mediation.
China called for an “immediate stop” to military operations after U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran in late February. When asked on March 3 about Iran’s counterattacks, China’s Foreign Ministry did not mention Tehran specifically, urging instead for “all parties” to prevent the conflict from spreading.
