China calls for end to war in Middle East, warning of economic impact

Follow our live coverage here.

BEIJING - China called for an end to the war in the Middle East on March 20, warning of the impact on global energy, shipping and trade, with the near three-week conflict showing no sign of slowing.

“History and reality have repeatedly shown the world that force is not the solution to problems and armed conflict will only breed new hatred,” Mr Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said, when asked whether Beijing had a message for Muslim communities as they mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The “still widening war” in the Middle East harms the common interests of all countries, Mr Lin said, repeating Beijing’s position that all sides in the Gulf conflict should cease fighting and that energy flows from the region should be unimpeded.

The remarks came on the 23rd anniversary of the Iraq War, which began in 2003 when US-led forces invaded Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein, partly on claims that his government possessed weapons of mass destruction.

That war resulted in years of chaos and instability and created a power vacuum that led to the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group.

“The unjust war should not go on,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the French president’s top diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne in a call later on March 20.

As a fellow UN Security Council member, France should step up strategic coordination with China and “prevent other countries from becoming further involved” in the conflict, he said.

Mr Wang has spoken with counterparts from every permanent member of the Security Council except the US since the war began.

Uneven consequences

The US-Israeli war has uneven consequences for China. Analysts say the conflict gives Beijing an opportunity to cast itself as the more reliable superpower.

However, the higher energy costs threaten its manufacturers and could trigger higher inflation if the conflict continues.

The uncertainty also threatens to disrupt Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship “Belt and Road” initiative.

Parts of the project run through the region and help move Chinese goods to key export markets in the Gulf, North Africa and Europe at a time of heavy reliance on external demand due to depressed domestic demand.

The war has led to a meeting between Mr Xi and US President Donald Trump to be delayed for about a month and a half.

Mr Trump’s China trip had been seen as a chance for a reset in relations between the two economic superpowers that have been rattled by US tariffs. REUTERS