The Chinese government has called on the United States and Israel to halt their ongoing attacks on Iran.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed serious concern over the US-Israeli strikes and stressed that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be upheld.
In a statement released Saturday, the ministry emphasized that all military actions should respect the nation’s territorial and political independence.
On Sunday, China’s embassy in Israel advised its citizens to move to safer areas within the country or to exit via the Taba border crossing into Egypt. At the same time, it urged Chinese nationals in Iran to leave “as soon as possible,” highlighting four overland routes to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq.
GenLoaded had reported that US and Israeli forces launched an offensive on Iran on Saturday, targeting military installations. The operation resulted in the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
In commentary on Sunday, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency denounced the assault as “brazen aggression against a sovereign nation” and a display of “power politics and hegemony.” Xinhua criticized Washington’s military measures as a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and a breach of “fundamental norms of international relations.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based airline operator Cathay Group (1981.HK) announced on Saturday the suspension of operations in the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions.
The pause affects passenger services to and from Dubai and Riyadh, as well as freighter flights through Al Maktoum International Airport. Cathay, parent of Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK), stated that affected flights are being rerouted to avoid the region.