Wang offered support to his Iranian counterpart in “safeguarding [Iran’s] national sovereignty, defending its legitimate rights and interests, and ensuring the safety of its people.” Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed these comments in a statement Tuesday. The Chinese response is stronger and more direct than its reaction to the round of conflictbetween Iran and Israel last fall.
China has mustered its diplomatic resources, including issuing a condemnation of Israel’s latest strikes through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), of which Iran is a member. This prompted a rebuke from India, an SCO member with strong arms-trading ties to Israel that was not consulted on the statement.
