China’s top diplomat has urged France to join forces in stopping what Beijing calls an unjust war in the Middle East, as escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran threatens global energy supplies and regional stability.

Beijing Seeks European Partnership

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told French diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne during a phone call that the Middle East situation continues to deteriorate. Wang emphasized that both nations, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, must enhance strategic communication to prevent the world from reverting to what he termed the law of the jungle. The Chinese official stated dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable path forward, according to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry released Thursday.

The war began last month when American and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran. Since then, Tehran has retaliated with attacks on Gulf states hosting U.S. military installations. China maintains a partnership with Iran but has publicly criticized the Iranian strikes and called for an immediate ceasefire. Wang recently declared the conflict should never have happened and demanded an end to hostilities.

Energy Security Concerns Drive Chinese Diplomacy

The conflict poses direct threats to China’s oil supplies and global energy markets. Beijing has deployed special envoy Zhai Jun on a regional diplomatic tour, meeting with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Arab League to urge de-escalation. These efforts reflect China’s growing concerns about energy security as fighting continues near critical oil shipping routes and production facilities in the Persian Gulf region.

What This Means

China’s outreach to France represents a strategic attempt to build European support for ending the conflict through diplomatic channels rather than military action. Beijing’s mediation efforts signal its desire to position itself as a responsible global power while protecting its economic interests in Middle Eastern oil. The call for UN Security Council coordination also highlights China’s preference for multilateral solutions that could limit American unilateral action in the region. Whether France will align with China’s approach remains uncertain as Western allies continue supporting Israel’s security operations.