A Chinese citizen in Tehran was killed during attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, prompting Chinese authorities to call for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations. Meanwhile, President Trump's scheduled visit to China has not been canceled.
Today (2 Mar 2024 GMT+7), Chinese authorities issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic talks to end the Middle East conflict, now entering its third day of escalation. The situation worsened after Israel and the US launched airstrikes in Iran and Lebanon, with the violence spreading to neighboring countries in the region.
Ms. Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters, "The most urgent task now is to immediately halt military operations to prevent the conflict from expanding and escalating." She emphasized the need for all parties to seek resolution through negotiation, confirming that one Chinese citizen died in the attacks on Tehran by the US and Israel targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mao said the Chinese embassy in Iran has been instructed to assist those involved and the victim's family. She added that China had not been informed in advance about the US military operations.
Following the incident, China and Russia jointly urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis. Chinese authorities had warned their citizens to avoid traveling to Iran last week, and reports indicate that over 3,000 Chinese nationals have already left Iran as of today.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it will retaliate against Israel and the US with the "most severe operation in history," targeting bases in the Gulf Arab countries, which have already been heavily affected by previous Iranian strikes.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to make his first official visit to China during his second term, from 31 March to 2 April 2024 GMT+7.
Ms. Mao commented on this schedule only by saying that China and the US are maintaining close coordination regarding the leaders' meeting, with no further details or updates disclosed yet.
. CNA
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