Iranian state media warns Xi Jinping: ‘If you want world leadership, provide Iran with military help’

The 12-day Iran-Israel war proved to Iran that it is alone when it comes to fighting its battles, despite the abundant moral support from its allies. While Russia and China, Iran’s allies, issued statements condemning Israel for its military campaign, the support was limited to just that.

Now, an article that appeared in Iranian state media has slammed China for its strategic silence, stating it was time for Beijing to abandon its foreign policy of  non-interference, if it wanted to position itself as a global leader. The cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy emphasises that states should not intervene in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations.

A report said that despite the widely discussed 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China, Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, adopted a cautious stance on the Iran-Israel war. “Chinese President Xi Jinping did not directly blame Israel and refrained from providing arms or direct aid to Iran in consistent with its non-interventionist foreign policy.”

The article added that if China wanted to make a legitimate claim to global leadership, it may have to take on a greater role as Iran’s security partner. “All that winning a war without fighting rhetoric is great, but if a country wants to be at the top of the global table, it sometimes has to provide military support to its allies, not just point to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as proof of its credibility as a reliable partner, “ the report added.

Pointing at China’s supply of weapons to Pakistan, and other Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakistan, the report added that “If Beijing does not shirk the political obligations that come with arms sales, even in the absence of a mutual defense treaty, it will reap the benefits of increased accountability and meeting the expectations of its new partner.”

The report hailed China’s trade ties with African and Central Asian countries, but said that despite the trade opportunities, they may have doubts about Beijing’s reliability, especially after how “a comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran” was followed only by press statements in response to Israeli attacks.

“By helping Iran rebuild and modernise its offensive and defensive military capabilities, China has another chance to deliver on its promises to Tehran and prove to Africa and Central Asia that it is more than a friend in good times,” the report said. It also called on Beijing to reconsider its non-interventionist foreign policy, which was satisfactory for a developing country but not for a country seeking global leadership.

 

 

 

 

 

Middle East