China's special envoy to the Middle East will travel to the region to attempt to mediate in the escalation that began following the military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran. This was announced on Wednesday by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang Yi announced the dispatch of the representative during a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to whom he conveyed that the spread of the conflict is something the Asian country 'does not wish to see.' 'China earnestly urges all parties to cease military operations, resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and avoid further escalation of tensions,' stated the minister, who described the 'indiscriminate use of force' as 'unacceptable,' especially 'against innocent civilians or non-military targets,' according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Additionally, he affirmed that China 'appreciates the moderation and commitment of Saudi Arabia to the peaceful resolution of differences' and that 'the reconciliation achieved among the countries in the region is invaluable and deserves to be valued and promoted.' Wang Yi's last remarks can be understood as a veiled reference to the resumption of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran at the end of 2023, a process in which China acted as a mediator and that Beijing considers one of its greatest achievements in the Middle East. The Saudi minister, for his part, expressed his concern to Wang Yi that the conflict continues to spread and intensify, and emphasized that his country 'reserves the right to legitimate defense, hoping that the crisis can be de-escalated.' The head of Saudi diplomacy also stated that Riyadh is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to promote peace and stop the conflict, according to the official statement from Beijing. Wang Yi also spoke with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdullah bin Zayed, to whom he insisted that 'the red line of protecting civilians must not be crossed during the conflict; non-military targets such as energy, economic, and livelihood assets must not be attacked, and the security of maritime routes must be maintained.' This is the third consecutive day that the head of Chinese diplomacy has been in contact with countries involved or affected by the conflict, including Israel and Oman, as well as Iran, a close political ally of China and its largest trading partner.
