China Sends Aid as Middle East War Worsens
China has announced emergency humanitarian assistance for Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq as the conflict triggered by United States and Israeli strikes enters its third week, with the United Nations warning that some 25 million people across the region have been affected by the escalating military confrontation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian disclosed Beijing’s decision at a press briefing on Tuesday, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian toll of the war that began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched surprise airstrikes targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and government installations across multiple cities.
“The ongoing conflict has caused severe human suffering in Iran and other regional countries,” Lin stated. “China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq in the hope of easing the humanitarian plight faced by local people.”
The spokesman did not provide specific details regarding the nature, scope, or monetary value of the assistance package, but emphasised that China will continue its efforts to promote peace, end hostilities and restore stability in the region, aiming to prevent further escalation of the humanitarian crisis.
According to casualty figures compiled by Iranian authorities and international monitoring organisations, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured by US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28. The deadliest single incident occurred in the southeastern city of Minab, where a strike on an elementary girls’ school killed more than 170 people, most of them schoolgirls.
The World Health Organization has reported that at least 18 hospitals and health facilities have been hit during the sustained bombing campaign, which has targeted Iranian missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities, military installations, and energy facilities across the country.
Beyond Iran’s borders, the conflict has displaced around 800,000 people in Lebanon, where Israel has escalated military operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces. Jordan and Iraq have also experienced spillover effects, particularly through Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting US military bases and facilities in Gulf states.
The humanitarian announcement comes as China intensifies diplomatic efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the warring parties. Special Envoy Zhai Jun has been conducting shuttle diplomacy across the region since early March, meeting with foreign ministers and senior officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
During a March 8 meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh, Zhai expressed concern over rising tensions, stressing that promoting peace and ending hostilities remains the only viable path forward.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has also been vocal in criticising the conflict. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of China’s National People’s Congress, he described the situation as “a war that should never have happened, and a war that benefits no one.”
“The Middle East is engulfed in flames,” Wang said, outlining key principles for resolving the crisis, including respect for national sovereignty, opposition to the use of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and political dialogue.
He further argued that the strikes carried out without United Nations authorisation violate international law and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.
China’s position reflects a delicate balancing act. Beijing maintains strong ties with Iran while also relying heavily on energy imports from Gulf states affected by the conflict. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and a major buyer of its oil exports, while also sourcing a significant share of its energy needs from the Gulf region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, has been effectively closed by Iran since early March in retaliation for the strikes. The disruption has driven up global oil and gas prices and affected international shipping and aviation.
While China has called for respect for sovereignty, officials have also expressed concern over Iran’s retaliatory strikes on neighbouring countries, urging restraint from all sides.
The United States and Israel launched their joint military operation on February 28 with the stated aim of targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and several senior officials, prompting waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region.
The conflict marks a significant escalation from earlier hostilities in 2025, with thousands of targets reportedly struck across Iran since the war began.
China’s humanitarian aid announcement coincides with shifting diplomatic dynamics. US President Donald Trump recently postponed a planned visit to Beijing, citing the need to remain in Washington during the crisis.
The delay followed calls for China to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a request Beijing has not directly addressed, instead urging an immediate halt to military operations.
Beyond relief efforts, China continues to position itself as a mediator, building on its earlier role in facilitating rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The crisis has forced Beijing to navigate competing interests, balancing its partnership with Iran against its broader economic and strategic ties across the Middle East.
China’s humanitarian assistance package signals an attempt to ease suffering while maintaining a neutral stance, reinforcing its broader approach of promoting dialogue over confrontation.
The announcement also highlights the growing humanitarian crisis across the Middle East as the conflict shows no sign of easing, despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire.