Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday listed the efforts her country had made in recent weeks to deescalate the conflict at a regular briefing in Beijing, without directly addressing reports China helped convince Tehran to reach the truce.
“China has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and to resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means, and to achieve long-term stability in the Gulf and Middle East region (West Asia),” she said, when asked about the detente. “China made its own efforts in this regard.”
Mao’s comments come hours after Iran and the US agreed to a two-week pause in hostilities mediated by Pakistan, and as talks begin for a more durable peace plan. That deal was announced shortly before Trump’s deadline expired threatening attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran.
The NYT citing three unidentified Iranian officials, reported that Iran accepted the ceasefire proposal following intervention by China, which asked the Islamic Republic to show flexibility and defuse tensions.
Since the conflict began, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had made 26 phone calls with relevant counterparts, while Beijing’s special envoy conducted shuttle diplomacy in the Gulf, Mao said.
