On June 16, China’s foreign ministry issued a rare public rebuke of Israel, urging it to halt “risky” military operations against Iran and warning of “serious consequences” for regional stability. The statement follows Israel’s June 14 airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s retaliatory missile barrage.
Beijing’s intervention signals a growing ambition to position itself as a global peace broker — but critics say it’s more about optics than outcomes. “China’s not neutral,” said one analyst. “It’s aligning with Iran to counterbalance U.S. influence.”
The move comes as China deepens economic ties with Tehran and expands its naval footprint in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, its own maritime crackdown in the South China Sea continues to draw condemnation from Southeast Asian neighbors.
For right-leaning observers, China’s rhetoric is a smokescreen. “They talk peace while backing regimes that threaten it,” said a former U.S. diplomat. “It’s classic authoritarian misdirection.”
