Chinese diplomatic chief Wang Yi spoke to his American counterpart Antony Blinken by telephone on Wednesday about the conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to their respective ministries.
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“The top priority is a ceasefire to end the fighting as soon as possible,” Wang Yi said during the phone call, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry report.
“Major countries (…) must maintain objectivity and impartiality, show calm and rationality,” the Chinese diplomat added, calling for “all efforts” to “prevent a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping himself called for an immediate end to hostilities during an extraordinary virtual summit of emerging economies (BRICS) last month.
For his part, Secretary of State Antony Blinken “reiterated the need for all parties to work to prevent the conflict from escalating,” American diplomacy said.
Recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on merchant ships pose an “unacceptable threat” to maritime security, the State Department statement said.
The United States is a steadfast ally of Israel, while China has strengthened its ties with Iran in recent years and provided important political, military and financial support to the Palestinian cause.
China maintains good relations with Israel. But it has supported the Palestinian cause for several decades and has traditionally advocated a two-state solution.
According to the Chinese authorities, Wang Yi discussed the situation in Taiwan with his counterpart in addition to the Middle East.
The diplomat warned the United States not to “interfere in China’s internal affairs” ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election next month.
Washington must not “support or encourage Taiwan’s independence forces,” he stressed.
The Taiwan issue is extremely sensitive in China. Beijing claims the island of 23 million has been ruled since 1949 by a rival regime close to the United States.
China has a negative view of American arms sales to the island and has exerted heavy military and economic pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 rise to power of Tsai Ing-wen, a party that has traditionally supported independence.