China urges caution amid tensions between Iran and Israel and advocates for a ceasefire

Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China urged all parties involved in the tensions between Iran and Israel to exercise caution and prevent the situation from escalating on Monday.

Wang also urged Israel to guarantee the protection of personnel with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) during a telephone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, according to a foreign ministry statement.

In addition, he reiterated Beijing’s stance on the Gaza conflict, which is to establish a ceasefire that is immediate, comprehensive, and permanent.

Katz asserted that he had “elucidated that Iran is the primary source for undermining stability in the Middle East” and that Iran poses a direct threat through its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, during the call.

Katz expressed his expectation that China would adopt a “fair and balanced stance” regarding the war, referencing the economic cooperation between the two nations and the fact that “approximately 20,000 workers from China continue to work in Israel during the…war.”