China’s special envoy to the Middle East has called for an immediate de-escalation of the growing regional conflict, warning that continued military escalation could deepen instability across the Gulf and threaten global energy security.
During diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia, China’s Middle East envoy Zhai Jun urged restraint from all sides and emphasised the need to protect civilian lives and critical infrastructure. The discussions took place as tensions across the region remain high following military strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry, Zhai Jun conveyed Beijing’s “deep concern” over the rapidly deteriorating security situation during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday.
China called on all parties involved in the conflict to halt military operations immediately and avoid actions that could further inflame tensions in the region.
“China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation of tensions and avoid causing greater harm to the people of regional countries,” Zhai said during the meeting.
He also stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Gulf states must be respected, adding that attacks on civilians and non-military facilities should be strongly condemned.
The diplomatic effort comes at a time when the conflict is increasingly raising concerns about the stability of global energy markets. The Middle East remains the world’s most important energy-producing region, and prolonged military confrontation could disrupt oil production, LNG exports and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
China is particularly sensitive to such disruptions because it relies heavily on crude oil imports from the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and the United Arab Emirates are among Beijing’s major energy suppliers.
Energy analysts say that any prolonged instability in the region could drive higher oil prices and complicate supply chains for major Asian importers, including China, India, Japan and South Korea.
While China has maintained strong economic and diplomatic ties with Iran, it has also expressed concern over Iranian strikes against several Gulf countries since the conflict began.
Beijing previously condemned the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, while simultaneously calling for restraint across the region.
In a separate meeting with Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Zhai Jun reiterated Beijing’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to stabilising the region.
China supports a rapid return to negotiations and stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting peace and ending hostilities, he said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi echoed that message in remarks on Sunday, saying the war “should never have happened” and calling for an immediate end to the fighting.
Diplomats say China’s push for de-escalation reflects both strategic and economic concerns. As the world’s largest crude oil importer, Beijing has a strong interest in maintaining stability in Gulf energy flows and preventing disruptions to shipping routes vital for global trade.
With energy markets already reacting to the conflict, any escalation could send oil prices higher and place additional strain on energy-importing economies.
For now, China’s diplomatic outreach highlights growing international efforts to contain the crisis before it spreads further across the Middle East’s energy-producing corridor.
.jpg "Obama 'Star Wars' center reflects former president’s vision, legacy")
