China calls on relevant parties to calm and restraint as Iran launched strike against Israel
China calls on relevant parties to calm and restraint as Iran launched strike against Israel
China on Sunday expressed deep concerns over the current escalation and called on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations after Iran launched military strike against Israeli territory. Chinese experts believe Iran’s retaliatory attack in response to Israel’s bombing of the Iranian embassy in Syria is “restrained.” However, in order for tensions to de-escalate, it is imperative that Israel refrains from taking further provocative actions that could exacerbate the situation and lead to more damage for Iran.
If Israel launches retaliation, it could escalate tensions and potentially draw the US into another Middle East crisis, a situation the US is trying to avoid, said Chinese experts, who believe that Israel’s targeting of Iran may be a strategic move to involve the US in the conflict, in order to secure more support from Washington as its backing appears to be diminishing.
Iran reportedly launched over 200 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night, after Teheran vowed earlier retaliation for an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guards officers including two senior commanders.
US sends senior diplomats to China after elevating defense ties with Japan, Philippines
The US has dispatched its top diplomats for East Asia to China, which analysts see as a move to test China’s reactions after it elevated defense relations with Japan and Philippines amid escalating tension in the South China Sea.
According to US Department of State, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink will visit China from Sunday to Tuesday. He will be joined by National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs Sarah Beran.
The two will meet with Chinese officials as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and to responsibly manage competition, according to the US state department.
Kritenbrink’s trip comes days after the first-ever trilateral summit between the US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr in Washington.
The three leaders vowed to enhance military ties, and their joint statement termed China’s actions to safeguard its sovereignty as “a dangerous and aggressive behavior” in the South China Sea, and as “attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea.”
China rebukes US and Canada for travel warnings to HK over national security law smears
The Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has expressed firm opposition against smears toward the national security law in Hong Kong and its newly passed Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, after the US and Canada updated travel warnings to the city citing so-called “restrictions” on civil liberties.
US Consulate General in Hong Kong asked US nationals to “exercise increased caution” when traveling to the SAR due to “the arbitrary enforcement of local laws,” the consulate general said on Friday.
In a strong rebuttal against such slander, a spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office said Saturday the travel alerts, in complete disregard of the facts, have maliciously tarnished Hong Kong’s international reputation in an attempt to obstruct normal business and personnel exchanges.
The Office stressed that Hong Kong’s law and ordinance on national security are in line with the rule of law and international practices. With a clear definition of crimes, they fully respect and protect human rights, and safeguard the normal activities of foreign institutions and personnel in the region.