ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - China’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, on Monday urged international actors to prioritize a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel-US conflict, stressing that de-escalation is essential to safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while subtly signaling Beijing’s reluctance to join a US-led maritime coalition to secure the key chokepoint.
The senior Chinese diplomat said the Strait and its surrounding waters are “important international trade routes for goods and energy,” emphasizing that “maintaining regional security and stability is a shared responsibility of the entire region is a shared responsibility and in line with the common interests of the international community.”
He called on “relevant parties to first halt military actions and avoid further escalation” in the region.
Asked by Rudaw’s Mahdi Faraj whether China would join a coalition proposed by US President Donald Trump to secure maritime traffic in the key waterway, Zhai hinted otherwise, stating that Beijing “hopes the situation in the Strait can cool down” and stressing that “only a ceasefire can solve the fundamental problem of navigation.”
“We are also in communication with all parties regarding the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added, noting that during his recent regional visits, “almost all countries, without exception, expressed concerns about navigation through the Strait.”
China's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, told Rudaw's @MahdiFarajPR that countries across the region are concerned about navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, urging an end to military actions and stressing that only a ceasefire can resolve the crisis and ensure… pic.twitter.com/exfKI4Pg8I