China’s response to war is strategy, not opportunism |
As war disrupts the Middle East, China is focused on stability and long-term strategy – but much of the commentary in Australia continues to misread its intentions.
China’s ambassador Xiao Qian visited Sydney last month shortly after the joint attack on Iran by Israel and the United States. Speaking at the Australia China Relations Institute, UTS Sydney, Ambassador Xiao was asked whether China could help to end the war by mediation between the two sides. He was quite blunt:
“For the United States and Israel to attack Iran, which is a sovereign state, and to kill its leader, that’s an action, that’s a violation of the UN charter, international law[s], international rules. And secondly, it’s creating tremendous chaos in that region and also bringing very, very negative spillover effects to regional even global economy. And both China and Australia, we’re feeling already the side effects of that situation…
“But whether or not China can play the role as a mediator … For a third party to mediate between another two parties, you need to have, number one, the permission or agreement or endorsement, acceptance of those two parties.
“Because when you accept mediation, it means both sides are ready to compromise, to listen to the advice from the mediator and compromise on some of the........