China and Russia are presenting themselves as voices of restraint and diplomacy amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran — a conflict the United States, under President Donald Trump, is reportedly considering joining.
During a phone call on Thursday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to project a united front, condemning the violence and advocating for de-escalation. According to a Kremlin statement, both leaders strongly criticized Israel’s actions, describing them as violations of the UN Charter and international law — though notably sidestepping mention of Russia’s own controversial military actions in Ukraine, which Beijing continues to avoid condemning.
Beijing’s official statement took a more measured stance. Xi urged all involved parties, "especially Israel," to halt hostilities and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. He further stressed that influential "major powers" should work to stabilize the situation — a pointed remark widely interpreted as a subtle message to Trump’s administration.
For years, Beijing has accused Washington of fueling instability in the Middle East. Now, as the Iran crisis intensifies, Chinese officials and scholars are renewing that criticism. Liu Zhongmin, a Middle East expert at Shanghai International Studies University, argued that Trump’s leadership has eroded America’s credibility in the region. Writing in Chinese state media, Liu claimed Trump’s transactional, unpredictable approach to Middle East policy has alienated allies, undermined U.S. influence, and emboldened adversaries.
As the conflict continues to escalate, both Moscow and Beijing appear determined to leverage the crisis as an opportunity to position themselves as responsible global powers in contrast to what they frame as Washington’s destabilizing interventions.
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