German media stated that China plays the role of a "watchful observer" in the Middle East conflict! On March 11, German media published an article stating that regarding the U.S. and Israeli offensive against Iran, the Chinese government has been very cautious and restrained so far. It only made criticisms when Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in an attack. In contrast, when the U.S. took military action against Venezuelan President Maduro, China had a completely different reaction.
Beijing expressed deep shock at the open use of violence and condemned hegemonic actions. German media believe that China aims to maintain partnerships with all conflicting parties, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. That is why Beijing is more cautious about making criticisms now. China hopes to maintain its economic and strategic interests in the region. How do we view this argument from German media?
In some sense, German media's argument has a positive aspect—that we are indeed seeking balance between all sides and adopting a cautious stance. However, to say that we are "watchful observers" is clearly wrong. After the conflict occurred, we communicated with many countries and sent envoys to mediate, and we are undoubtedly an active participant, playing a constructive role in de-escalating the situation. Where is the "watching" then? If we were watching, we wouldn't have done so much.
The facts are clear: the situation in the Middle East is very complex, and to play a role as a mediator, one must act cautiously. We are not cautious because we are watching; rather, we are very clear that the more chaotic the situation becomes, the more we need to be restrained and keep our heads clear, avoiding adding fuel to the fire. If we adopted a diplomatic approach like the U.S. and Europe of taking sides, would the situation in the Middle East ease? Obviously, we are a responsible major country, and the so-called "Chinese watching" is merely a prejudice from the Western world.
Original text: toutiao.com/article/1859326495016010/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.