China has announced plans to provide humanitarian assistance to several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Lebanon, as the conflict involving the United States and Israel enters its third week.
Speaking on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the war has led to “grave humanitarian catastrophes” across parts of the region, prompting Beijing to step in with emergency support.
According to him, China will extend aid to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq in a bid to ease the suffering of affected populations. While specific details of the assistance were not disclosed, he noted that the effort is aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
China, a close ally of Iran, has consistently called on both the United States and Israel to halt their attacks. At the same time, Beijing has also criticised Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries hosting US military bases, urging restraint from all sides.
Lin emphasised that China remains committed to promoting peace and preventing further escalation of the crisis. “China will continue to make every effort to promote peace and stop the war, and to prevent further spreading of the humanitarian crisis,” he said.
As part of its diplomatic efforts, China has been actively engaging regional leaders. Its special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, recently met with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister to push for de-escalation, while the country’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has described the war as one that “should never have happened.”
The announcement of humanitarian aid comes amid broader geopolitical developments, including the postponement of a planned visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump due to the ongoing conflict. Washington has also urged China to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route that has been disrupted following Iran’s response to US and Israeli strikes.
With tensions still high, China’s intervention signals a growing push for diplomatic resolution alongside immediate humanitarian relief for those caught in the crisis.
