US asks China for help over situation in Israel
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The US's top diplomat, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, engaged in a "productive" one-hour phone conversation with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as stated by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
He conveyed that the message was about the shared interest in preventing the conflict from spreading and suggested that China's influence could be beneficial.
China maintains a warm relationship with Iran, whose clerical leadership supports both Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza, responsible for recent attacks in Israel, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group potentially opening a second front against Israel.
Wang, in response, emphasized that the United States should play a constructive and responsible role to facilitate a political settlement. He also stressed the importance of objectivity, fairness, adherence to international law, and the need for an international peace meeting to garner broad consensus.
Wang reiterated support for a "two-state solution" as the fundamental approach to the Palestinian issue. Notably, China's official statements haven't explicitly named Hamas in their condemnations of violence, drawing criticism from some Western officials.
Despite the US considering China as its primary global challenger, efforts have been made to stabilize their relationship, with Secretary Blinken's rare visit to Beijing in June. Miller highlighted that the Middle East is an area where these two powers can collaborate.
The phone call also included a discussion on China-US relations, which have faced significant strains in recent years due to various trade and geopolitical issues.
Nevertheless, Wang expressed optimism about recent high-level contacts, indicating a halt to the deterioration and a move toward stabilization in bilateral relations.
