On the afternoon of April 20th, according to information released by China, China had a phone conversation with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, as invited. How should we interpret this rare call, and what political signals does it convey behind the scenes?
Firstly, the term "rare" is justified because Prince Mohammed bin Salman has traditionally focused more on domestic issues and rarely speaks out on the international stage—essentially remaining secluded from global affairs. Since the outbreak of the current conflict, Saudi Arabia’s external communications have largely been handled through Foreign Minister Faisal. Therefore, this particular phone call between China and Saudi Arabia stands out as especially significant and unusual.
Secondly, the word “as invited” in the press release indicates that the call was initiated by Saudi Arabia and conveyed a sense of urgency. What, then, might be the underlying purpose? I believe the key lies in the statement emphasized by Prince Mohammed bin Salman: “Strengthen communication and coordination with China to maintain the ceasefire and prevent the rekindling of hostilities.” With only one day left until the U.S.-Iran ceasefire officially ends, Iran has still not made a decision on attending negotiations. This raises a serious risk that fighting could reignite between the U.S. and Iran, potentially spilling over into the Gulf region. Thus, the primary objective of Saudi Arabia’s call may well be to urge China to step in and persuade Iran to participate in the second round of U.S.-Iran talks hosted by Pakistan, at minimum ensuring continuity of the current ceasefire. To Saudi Arabia, China still appears to wield considerable influence over Iran.
Finally, it cannot be denied that this phone call by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may also be linked to last week’s visit by UAE Crown Prince Khalid to China. In addition to discussing the U.S.-Iran war, the UAE placed special emphasis on practical cooperation across various fields with China—clearly aiming to diversify its economic and financial presence and seize strategic advantages throughout the Gulf region. Consequently, Saudi Arabia’s move likely serves a balancing and hedging function. That’s why Prince Mohammed bin Salman used several important statements, such as: “The Sino-Saudi relationship is strategic,” and “Developing relations with China is crucial for Saudi Arabia.”
In sum, this phone call reflects Saudi Arabia’s anxiety regarding the current geopolitical situation and underscores its strategic reliance on China. With only one day remaining, it will now be crucial to see whether China takes corresponding actions—engaging further with the Pakistani mediation party and pushing Iran back to the negotiating table. Ultimately, whether the talks can truly restart depends entirely on the positions and intentions of Iran and the United States themselves.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862988427802627/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.