Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi listens throughout a press convention on the sideline of the Nationwide Individuals’s Congress (NPC) on the media middle in Beijing, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Andy Wong/AP
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Andy Wong/AP
China’s international minister, Wang Yi, mentioned on Sunday the U.S.-Israeli warfare with Iran “mustn’t have occurred” and “does nobody any good.”
However whereas Wang criticized the U.S. over the Iran warfare, he additionally provided a constructive sign that an anticipated assembly between President Donald Trump and Chinese language chief Xi Jinping may nonetheless go forward on the finish of this month.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an annual political assembly in Beijing, Wang didn’t affirm a gathering date however mentioned China is open to dialogue with america.
He mentioned the world can not afford for the 2 largest economies to have interaction in battle.
Here’s a abstract of what Wang mentioned on 5 key worldwide points.
1. Iran warfare
China needs the combating to cease and for all events within the Iran warfare to return to the negotiating desk.
“May does not make proper, and the world can not revert to the regulation of the jungle,” Wang mentioned.
He mentioned the U.S. and Israel ought to respect the sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity of Iran and different international locations within the Center East.
China mentioned it’ll ship an envoy to the area for mediation.
Nonetheless, the Chinese language are usually not neutral.
China is extra strategically aligned with Iran than it’s with the U.S. and Israel. China buys massive quantities of oil from Iran and elsewhere within the Center East – which have been affected by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Relations with the U.S. – and Europe
China says it needs “peaceable coexistence” and “win-win cooperation” with america.
“China and the U.S. are each huge international locations. Neither aspect can transform the opposite, however we are able to select how we need to have interaction,” he mentioned.
Chinese language diplomats typically stress that there must be mutual respect as a result of there’s a deep sense that the U.S. is out to suppress and comprise China’s inevitable rise.
On the identical time Wang tried to allay fears in Europe that China’s rise will come on the expense of their core industries.
Wang mentioned Europe has an incorrect notion of China as a competitor and may as an alternative be thought to be a “world companion.”
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“We’re glad to see European pals stepping out of the ‘small attic’ of protectionism and strolling into the ‘health membership’ of the Chinese language market to construct their energy and competitiveness,” he mentioned.
3. Tariffs
Wang implicitly criticized President Trump’s world commerce tariffs, as he mentioned pursuing commerce protectionism is “akin to locking oneself in a darkish room.”
“It might maintain out wind and rain, but it surely additionally shuts out gentle and air,” he mentioned.
Not like the U.S., China has mentioned it’s opening up its personal markets to world gamers.
Beginning Could 1st, China mentioned it’ll absolutely raise tariffs on all imports from most African international locations so it will probably “assist Africa entry the large alternatives of the Chinese language market,” in keeping with Wang.
Nonetheless, he didn’t handle the sluggishness in home demand, which was demonstrated earlier this week when China set its lowest financial development goal because the Nineties, aiming for between 4.5% and 5% this 12 months.
4. Japan and Taiwan
China and Japan relations are at present notably fraught, with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting final 12 months Japan may become involved if China invades Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its personal territory.
Wang mentioned it’s as much as Tokyo to determine what the long run holds for China-Japan relations.
“Taiwan by no means was, shouldn’t be, and can by no means be a rustic,” Wang mentioned. “Taiwan affairs are purely China’s inside affairs.”
He mentioned Japan has no proper to intrude within the Taiwan subject.
5. Gaza
Wang mentioned that China helps a two-state resolution for Palestine.
“Some other preparations or new mechanisms should reinforce – somewhat than undermine the two-state resolution,” Wang mentioned.
He welcomed worldwide efforts to allow the ceasefire, however mentioned a lot of the exhausting work lies forward.
China was invited to affix Trump’s Board of Peace but it surely has not participated.
