ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - China on Monday emphasized its long-standing policy of non-interference regarding Iraq’s newly launched anti-corruption campaign, framing the ongoing crackdown as an internal matter for Baghdad, while reaffirming its interest in participating in Iraq’s economic reconstruction in line with state regulations.
"Regarding the anti-corruption campaign launched by the new Iraqi government, this is Iraq's internal affair," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told Rudaw’s Mahdi Faraj, adding that “as a matter of principle, the Chinese government has consistently required its enterprises to operate in accordance with laws and regulations in their foreign cooperation."
The remarks come as Iraqi authorities continue to make headway with Operation Dawn, a large-scale anti-corruption campaign that was launched on Sunday under the direction of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in coordination with Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity.
Iraqi government Spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Monday that the campaign has thus far seen “the arrest of 21 suspects, while others are still being pursued.” He further added that “the operation will not stop” and that “the confessions made by the suspects are leading to other networks involving names and financial assets.”
The anti-corruption campaign also comes as part of a comprehensive reform agenda enacted by the Zaidi government in late May, aimed at combating corruption and reducing the country’s overreliance on oil revenues.
For its part, Beijing’s foreign ministry noted that “Chinese enterprises have actively participated in Iraq’s economic reconstruction, remaining steadfast even during the period of rampant extremist activity, and making positive contributions to Iraq’s national development and improvement of people’s livelihoods, earning widespread praise from all sectors of Iraqi society.”
It added that “China is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Iraq, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and better benefit the people of both countries.”
Iraqi-China economic relations have since 2015 seen a massive scale up especially under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, an agreement China initiated with 146 countries including Iraq. Under this framework, Chinese companies have invested in and built various projects in Iraq, including schools, as part of reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by the Islamic State (ISIS).
Of note, Iraqi Ambassador to Beijing Shoresh Khalid told Rudaw in late 2025 that trade volume between Iraq and China surged to an estimated $55 billion in 2024, pointing to Beijing as Iraq’s largest importer of oil.
