Middle East Situation | China’s 3 ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Beijing expresses gratitude

The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said at a regular press conference that, after coordination with the relevant parties, recently three Chinese vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz, and China expresses its thanks to the relevant parties for the assistance provided.

She emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz and the waters nearby are important international trade routes for goods and energy, and China calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and for the restoration of peace and stability in the Gulf region.

Opposes attacks on Iran’s safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities

Regarding the recent attack by U.S. and Israeli military actions on Iran’s heavy-water plant, Mao Ning pointed out that armed attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards are contrary to the purposes of the UN Charter, international law, and the IAEA Statute, seriously undermine the authority of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, weaken efforts to maintain the international nuclear nonproliferation system, and may bring serious consequences for regional peace, security, and stability.

Mao Ning said China firmly opposes this and calls for peacefully resolving Iran’s nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. She urged all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, and to avoid further escalation of the tense situation.

Deeply regrets damage to Iran’s cultural relics and historic sites

According to the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism, recent attacks targeted multiple historical sites in Iran, and more than 133 cultural relics and historic sites have been affected, with many suffering severe damage.

Mao Ning said that World Cultural Heritage is a valuable asset for all humankind. China is deeply saddened by the destruction of Iran’s cultural relics and historic sites in wartime. China urges all parties to the conflict, especially the United States and Israel, to immediately and comprehensively stop military actions, to start dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and to end this war that should not have happened at the earliest opportunity.

Again urges Japan to investigate the incident of breaching the Chinese embassy with a knife

According to reports, the Self-Defense Force officer who previously entered the Chinese Embassy in Japan with a knife has been sent for review by Japanese police. Mao Ning said that this incident shows how deeply the poison of Japan’s right-wing ideology and distorted view of history runs, and how severe the harm is.

She noted that, before 2024, a senior official of the Maritime Self-Defense Force actually served as the chief priest of Yasukuni Shrine, which is the first time that the highest position at Yasukuni Shrine has been held by a retired Self-Defense Force general. The Self-Defense Force has long invited extreme anti-China right-wing figures to participate in teaching, and the training materials are filled with content that distorts and beautifies the history of Japan’s WWII aggression.

Mao Ning also mentioned that Japan’s shift to the right and its “re-militarization” by the Self-Defense Forces are worthy of high vigilance by the international community. China once again urges Japan to thoroughly investigate the incident and, at the root, prevent such incidents from happening again.

First European Parliament delegation to visit China in 8 years starts today

In the course of the meeting, when asked about a European Parliament delegation visiting China from March 31 to April 2, this will be the first European Parliament delegation to visit China in eight years.

Mao Ning said that inter-parliamentary exchanges are an important part of China–Europe relations. According to China’s understanding, at the invitation of the Legislative Affairs Work Committee of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, the delegation from the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament will visit China starting today. We believe this visit will promote exchanges and cooperation between legislative bodies of China and Europe, enhance the European Parliament’s understanding and recognition of China, and help foster the healthy and stable development of China–Europe relations.