China urges ceasefire in Iran war, cools on US-led Hormuz security coalition

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - China’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, on Monday urged international actors to prioritize a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel-US conflict, stressing that de-escalation is essential to safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while subtly signaling Beijing’s reluctance to join a US-led maritime coalition to secure the key chokepoint.

The senior Chinese diplomat said the Strait and its surrounding waters are “important international trade routes for goods and energy,” emphasizing that “maintaining regional security and stability is a shared responsibility of the entire region is a shared responsibility and in line with the common interests of the international community.”

He called on “relevant parties to first halt military actions and avoid further escalation” in the region.

Asked by Rudaw’s Mahdi Faraj whether China would join a coalition proposed by US President Donald Trump to secure maritime traffic in the key waterway, Zhai hinted otherwise, stating that Beijing “hopes the situation in the Strait can cool down” and stressing that “only a ceasefire can solve the fundamental problem of navigation.”

“We are also in communication with all parties regarding the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added, noting that during his recent regional visits, “almost all countries, without exception, expressed concerns about navigation through the Strait.”


The US and Israel on February 28 launched a joint campaign against Iran, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announcing in its latest tally on Wednesday that the operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, had targeted nearly 8,000 sites across Iran since its start with the stated aim of dismantling Iran’s security structure.

In response, Iran earlier this month said it launched more than 2,000 drones and over 600 missiles targeting US and Israeli positions in the region, especially in Gulf Arab states, as part of its multi-front response, titled Operation True Promise 4.

Tehran has also tightened its grip on the vital Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing it to commercial traffic. The strait handles roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade, and its closure has caused regional oil disruptions, driving global prices up 40 to 50 percent.

US President Trump has since mid-March been pushing to establish a coalition to secure maritime traffic through the Strait, but the effort has drawn limited support from key allies, especially NATO.