War in Middle East should never have happened , says China s FM

China's foreign minister expressed strong disapproval on Sunday (Mar 8) regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, stating that it “should never have happened.” He urged for an immediate ceasefire. During a press conference held alongside China's Two Sessions, Wang Yi shared his views on the situation, describing the region as being “engulfed in flames.” “This war should not have occurred, and no party gains from it,” Wang, who is also the head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party, emphasized. The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel initiated attacks on Iran. In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US interests in neighboring countries, particularly in the Gulf region. Additionally, Israel has conducted new strikes in Lebanon following attacks from Hezbollah, a militia aligned with Iran. Beijing has previously criticized the military actions taken by the US and Israel against Iran, with which it maintains diplomatic and trade relations, especially condemning the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On Sunday, Wang reiterated his call for an end to hostilities. He stated, “Using force will only create more hatred and lead to new crises.” He urged for an immediate stop to military actions to prevent further escalation and to avoid the conflict spreading. Wang also mentioned that China is ready to collaborate with countries in the Middle East to “restore order” in the region.