China calls for diplomatic efforts to halt the escalation of war in the Middle East.

March 24, 2026 (PEN) China urged greater efforts to prevent the spread and escalation of hostilities in the Middle East by returning to diplomatic means to resolve tensions in the region.

Zhai Jun, the Chinese government's special envoy for Middle East affairs, said at a press conference following the conclusion of his visit to the Middle East that China calls on the international community to uphold peace, actively promote peace talks, and push for a return to diplomatic means of resolving conflicts.

He stressed that China believes this is a war that should never have broken out, noting that the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran without authorization from the Security Council, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, expressing Beijing’s opposition to and strong condemnation of these actions.

He added that this war severely undermines the security and stability of the Middle East, and inflicts serious damage on global economic and energy security and the security of global shipping lanes, stressing that the priority is to achieve a ceasefire.

He stressed that dialogue and negotiation offer the only solution to disputes and conflicts, that military means cannot resolve fundamental issues, and that the use of force should not be the first option, adding: "China calls on the international community to uphold peace, actively promote peace talks, and push for a return to diplomatic means in resolving disputes."