China says war can't solve Iran nuclear issue, Israeli strikes illicit
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Wang Yi calls for peaceful solutions to Middle East crises, warning against strikes and urging diplomacy for resolving the Iranian nuclear file and the Palestinian issue.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to journalists during a news conference at the Foreign Ministry in Paris, Friday, July 4, 2025 (AP, Pool)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the logic of "might makes right" during a joint press conference in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, the Global Times reported.
“Strength will not bring true peace; it may well open 'Pandora’s box'. How should countries lacking strength, especially small and medium-sized ones, find their place? Are they to be laid out on the table, left at the mercy of others?” he asked.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is visiting Europe from June 30 to July 6 at the invitation of several top EU diplomats, including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
China’s position on Iran's nuclear file
Addressing questions on the Iran nuclear issue and the broader Middle East situation, Wang said the matter once had the potential to serve as a model for resolving international disputes through negotiation. However, it has instead become a trigger for a renewed crisis, he indicated.
“Despite hearing the knock of peace, the door to peace remains shut,” Wang noted, expressing China’s regret over this situation.
He reaffirmed China’s consistent stance, recognizing Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and valued the repeated public statements by Iran’s Leader, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, opposing nuclear weapons development.
The Chinese top diplomat emphasized that all relevant parties should expedite efforts to reach a new international agreement and ensure Iran’s nuclear activities are subject to full oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"Peace lies beneath our feet, and history will question the sincerity of all parties involved," he said.
War cannot resolve Iran nuclear issue, Wang says
Warning against military escalation, Wang stressed that the latest confrontation between "Israel" and Iran must not be repeated, emphasizing that war cannot resolve the Iran nuclear issue.
The excessive use of force, he warned, only breeds more animosity.
Wang condemned the US bombing of a sovereign country's nuclear facilities, calling it a dangerous precedent. If such actions result in a nuclear disaster, the entire world will suffer the consequences, he cautioned.
Addressing the core of Middle East chaos: The Palestinian question
The Chinese Foreign Minister further explained that resolving the Iranian nuclear issue cannot be separated from the core issue of the Middle East, the Palestinian question, which must no longer be marginalized.
He called for the legitimate aspirations of the Arab nation to be realized and emphasized that the voices of the Islamic world deserve serious attention.
According to Wang, the "two-state solution" remains the only viable path to resolving crises in the Middle East, and the international community must take practical and effective steps to support it.
He also condemned the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and insisted it must not be allowed to persist.
Wang concluded by calling for the UN and its Security Council to play a more active role in peacebuilding, affirming China’s readiness to work with France in pursuit of these shared goals.
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