Beijing, April 14 (UNI) China, being the largest buyer of Iranian crude, on Tuesday criticised the US blockade as “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” according to its foreign ministry.
The blockade directly cuts off that supply and potentially has a far-reaching impact on the Chinese economy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the targeted blockade of the vital shipping channel coupled with an increase in US military deployment, risks undermining an “already fragile ceasefire situation.”
"Only a full ceasefire can help ease the situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference, adding that Beijing would make efforts to help restore peace and stability in the Middle East.
The US began preventing ships from entering and exiting Iranian ports in the vital waterway on Monday in a bid to force Iran to reopen the Strait, after peace talks in Islamabad faltered over the weekend.
As the world’s largest energy importer, China has remain unaffected due to the global energy shock caused by the Gulf conflict better than many of its Asian neighbors. Yet, with fuel markets remaining volatile, the stakes of the conflict are rising for Beijing.
A key reason is China’s reliance on Iranian oil and US actions on Iran pose potential risks to China’s energy supply.
These developments increase pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.
As President Donald Trump is set to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing next month. China has called for peace amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Trump even suggested that China played a role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.
Beijing has been cautiously navigating diplomacy during this critical ceasefire phase will likely hinge on the economic pressures it faces.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined a four-point plan to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, according to Xinhua. The proposal emphasizes peaceful coexistence, respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international law, and coordination between development and security. Xi presented the plan during a meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in Beijing.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Tuesday for an official visit from April 14-15. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Lavrov would meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.
Lavrov stated that he plans to discuss preparations for new contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping, noting that these meetings are already planned. “I have no doubt that this year we will have more opportunities to repeatedly communicate and prepare additional solutions for new contacts between our leaders,” Lavrov said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during his fourth visit to China in four years, urged Beijing to play a more substantial role in global issues, including climate change, security, defense, and inequality.
Speaking at Beijing’s Tsinghua University on Monday, Sanchez emphasized that Europe will also need to increase its efforts as the U.S. steps back from leadership on many fronts.
UNI AAB PRS