Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi listens throughout a press convention on the sideline of the Nationwide Folks’s Congress (NPC) on the media middle in Beijing, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Andy Wong/AP
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Andy Wong/AP
China’s overseas minister, Wang Yi, mentioned on Sunday the U.S.-Israeli battle with Iran “shouldn’t have occurred” and “does nobody any good.”
However whereas Wang criticized the U.S. over the Iran battle, he additionally supplied a optimistic sign that an anticipated assembly between President Donald Trump and Chinese language chief Xi Jinping would possibly nonetheless go forward on the finish of this month.
Chatting with reporters on the sidelines of an annual political assembly in Beijing, Wang didn’t affirm a gathering date however mentioned China is open to dialogue with america.
He mentioned the world can not afford for the 2 largest economies to have interaction in battle.
Here’s a abstract of what Wang mentioned on 5 key worldwide points.
1. Iran battle
China desires the combating to cease and for all events within the Iran battle to return to the negotiating desk.
“May does not make proper, and the world can not revert to the legislation of the jungle,” Wang mentioned.
He mentioned the U.S. and Israel ought to respect the sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity of Iran and different nations within the Center East.
China mentioned it can ship an envoy to the area for mediation.
Nonetheless, the Chinese language aren’t neutral.
China is extra strategically aligned with Iran than it’s with the U.S. and Israel. China buys giant quantities of oil from Iran and elsewhere within the Center East – which have been affected by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Relations with the U.S. – and Europe
China says it desires “peaceable coexistence” and “win-win cooperation” with america.
“China and the U.S. are each massive nations. Neither facet can rework the opposite, however we will select how we need to interact,” he mentioned.
Chinese language diplomats usually stress that there must be mutual respect as a result of there’s a deep sense that the U.S. is out to suppress and include China’s inevitable rise.
On the similar time Wang tried to allay fears in Europe that China’s rise will come on the expense of their core industries.
Wang mentioned Europe has an incorrect notion of China as a competitor and will as a substitute be thought to be a “world companion.”
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“We’re glad to see European associates stepping out of the ‘small attic’ of protectionism and strolling into the ‘health membership’ of the Chinese language market to construct their energy and competitiveness,” he mentioned.
3. Tariffs
Wang implicitly criticized President Trump’s world commerce tariffs, as he mentioned pursuing commerce protectionism is “akin to locking oneself in a darkish room.”
“It might preserve out wind and rain, however it additionally shuts out gentle and air,” he mentioned.
In contrast to the U.S., China has mentioned it’s opening up its personal markets to world gamers.
Beginning Could 1st, China mentioned it can absolutely carry tariffs on all imports from most African nations so it may well “assist Africa entry the large alternatives of the Chinese language market,” in keeping with Wang.
Nonetheless, he didn’t tackle the sluggishness in home demand, which was demonstrated earlier this week when China set its lowest financial development goal for the reason that Nineteen Nineties, aiming for between 4.5% and 5% this yr.
4. Japan and Taiwan
China and Japan relations are at the moment notably fraught, with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting final yr Japan would possibly become involved if China invades Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its personal territory.
Wang mentioned it’s as much as Tokyo to resolve what the long run holds for China-Japan relations.
“Taiwan by no means was, shouldn’t be, and can by no means be a rustic,” Wang mentioned. “Taiwan affairs are purely China’s inside affairs.”
He mentioned Japan has no proper to intrude within the Taiwan problem.
5. Gaza
Wang mentioned that China helps a two-state resolution for Palestine.
“Another preparations or new mechanisms should reinforce – somewhat than undermine the two-state resolution,” Wang mentioned.
He welcomed worldwide efforts to allow the ceasefire, however mentioned a lot of the laborious work lies forward.
China was invited to affix Trump’s Board of Peace however it has not participated.
