Observer Research Foundation / Antara Ghosal Singh
In his first public comment following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that China is “deeply worried” about Israel’s military operation against Iran, and that “China stands ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has already spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi regarding the latest hostilities.
While publicly slamming Israel for attacking Iran, China has sought to engage both countries to ensure that Chinese interests are safeguarded and that the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel is maintained. Beijing also wants to explore the possibility of mediating between Tel Aviv and Tehran as a potential peacemaker in the current crisis.
One reason behind China’s underwhelming support for Iran could be Tehran’s less-than-ideal reputationwithin China, particularly in the public opinion space. Since the beginning of the latest episode of hostilities between Israel and Iran, the dominant discourse in China is that Iran’s future appears bleak. A series of news reports, commentaries, and blogs on the Chinese internet deliberated the various perceived shortcomings faced by Tehran: it has too many traitors, serious internal contradictions,
has been under sanctions for far too long—with its economy crumbling, technology outdated, and military incompetent. Criticism of Iran flooded the Chinese internet space as Iran’s senior military personnel were killed and its nuclear facilities destroyed by Israeli strikes. Overall, Chinese public opinion shows little sympathy or support for Iran—only a vague hope that Iran might sap some of Israel’s, and by extension America’s, power by dragging it into a quagmire, and thereby easing pressure on China.
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