China to send special envoy to Middle East for mediation efforts

ISTANBUL

China will send a special envoy to the Middle East to engage regional countries in mediation efforts, the country’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.

In a separate call with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wang said even during conflicts “the red line on protecting civilians must not be crossed” and expressed Beijing’s support for resolving disputes through diplomacy.

Tensions have surged in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran beginning Feb. 28, killing over 850 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 elementary schoolgirls, according to Iranian authorities.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting US-linked sites in Gulf countries, causing multiple fatalities. Six US service members have been killed and several others injured.

Wang on Tuesday told Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that military force against Iran would not resolve the crisis.

Earlier this week, Wang also urged Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to address the “reasonable concerns” of neighboring countries during a phone call.

China has repeatedly opposed the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, Beijing condemned attacks targeting children in conflict zones following reports of an Israeli airstrike that killed dozens of schoolgirls in Iran.