BEIJING, Apr 7 : China on Tuesday criticized former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns for his remarks regarding China’s stance on Iran and Venezuela.
“China has noted the relevant remarks. Such remarks are clearly made with ulterior motives,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular press briefing.
Mao emphasised that the facts and merits regarding the situations in Iran and Venezuela are clear, as is China’s position. She accused Burns of ignoring the root causes of these issues and of unfairly targeting China.
“Ignoring the root causes of these issues, Burns has chosen to point the finger at China, distorting and smearing China’s fair and objective stance for peace through the lens of US hegemonic thinking, and maliciously attempting to drive a wedge between China and the countries concerned,” Mao said.
Burns, a veteran American diplomat, had reportedly claimed that “China damaged its claim of becoming a major global player by failing to offer effective diplomatic support for Iran and staying silent when the US intervened in Venezuela.”
The exchange reflects ongoing tensions in U.S.-China relations, particularly regarding influence in the Middle East and Latin America.
China damaged its claim of becoming a major global player by failing to offer effective diplomatic support for Iran and staying silent when the US intervened in Venezuela, according to veteran American diplomat Nicholas Burns.
“I think they look like a fickle friend to both the Iranians and also the Venezuelans,” Burns said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s Wall Street Week with David Westin.
The war in Iran has had a “decisive impact” on US-China relations, forcing President Trump to postpone a planned summit with President Xi Jinping to focus on managing the conflict.
The situation in the Middle East continues to worsen and the military conflict is still escalating, hitting the world economy and energy security and drawing deep concerns from the international community.
Mao Ning said that since the conflict began, “China has held an objective, just and balanced position and has been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict.”
Reflecting on the diplomatic engagements, she said that Foreign Minister Wang Yi made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and the Gulf states.
The Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue traveled to the region in a mediation effort. Last week, China and Pakistan issued the five-point initiative, which embodies the international consensus for ceasefire and peace.
“The use of force does not bring peace. Political settlement is the right way forward. The root cause of the conflict is the U.S.-Israeli launch of military attacks against Iran in violation of international law.”
Mao said that the top priority is to bring an immediate end to the military operations and return to dialogue and negotiation, so as to fundamentally resolve the issues and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region. “All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place.”
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
