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CHINA PERSPECTIVE
THIRD WAVE OF US STRIKES ON IRAN AS GULF STATES ARE HIT
DOMINANT ANGLE
Beijing is urging Washington and Tehran to preserve the ceasefire rather than letting the Gulf slide into all-out war.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
ANALYSIS
Beijing, July 13, 2026. Before the UN Security Council, Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative Sun Lei delivered a sobering message: the diplomatic path remains the only viable solution to the Iranian crisis, as the region plunges back into conflict. His remarks come on the heels of a new escalation: after a ship navigating an unapproved route was struck by the Revolutionary Guard's navy, US forces launched new strikes on Iran, while Tehran announced it would again close the Strait of Hormuz and struck several Arab Gulf states.
According to Sun Lei, tensions had temporarily eased after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, providing for a permanent halt to military activities on all fronts and a roadmap for negotiations and sanctions relief. But this ceasefire "has since suffered setbacks," he acknowledged, calling on all parties to "remove obstacles" and refrain from using force or threatening to do so.
The Chinese diplomat did not single out a sole responsible party, instead emphasizing the common interest of the international community in seeing the Middle East regain stability and peace. This framing contrasts with the rhetoric of Donald Trump, who declared the truce over and claimed to have "1000 missiles locked and loaded" against Iran, while accusing Tehran of targeting his own life. For its part, Iran has made it known that any negotiations remain excluded as long as Washington does not reverse its positions on Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, which it now claims to control and tariff for transiting ships.
For Beijing, whose energy supply is heavily dependent on the Gulf, the repeated closure of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on neighboring Arab states constitute a direct threat to the stability of commercial routes, beyond the sole Iranian nuclear issue. The call for "a rational and pragmatic settlement" aims to protect these economic interests as much as to defend a diplomatic principle: that of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the memorandum signed by the two parties. China thus avoids taking sides in the military escalation, while recalling that the lifting of sanctions against Iran remains, in its view, a necessary condition for any lasting de-escalation.
KEY POINTS
- China's permanent representative to the UN, Sun Lei, called for preserving the ceasefire and advancing negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue during a UN Security Council meeting.
- The memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran provided for the permanent cessation of military activities on all fronts and a roadmap including the easing of sanctions against Iran.
- After an Iranian strike against an unapproved route ship, the US launched a new wave of strikes while Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked Gulf Arab states.
COGNITIVE BIASES IDENTIFIED
China's diplomatic-focused framing prioritizes multilateral institutions, such as the Security Council, over military developments on the ground.
China's sources prefer institutional neutrality, avoiding designation of a party responsible for the escalation, and instead emphasizing the collective interest in de-escalation.
Chinese articles provide limited coverage of internal Israeli-Iranian dynamics, rarely mentioning developments related to funerals or threats against leaders.
SOURCES (2)
CGTNCenter
STATE-CONTROLLEDSTATE MEDIA
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