China’s President Xi Jinping has called for a four-point approach to promote lasting peace in West Asia, China's state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
He made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as tensions in the region sharpened after US-Iran negotiations failed to produce a deal.
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‘The law of the jungle’ returns?
According to Xinhua, Xi presented four proposals for peace in West Asia. The plan rests on upholding peaceful coexistence, respecting national sovereignty, coordinating development and security, and safeguarding an international order based on rules.
He also stressed that the authority of international law should not be applied selectively, warning against what he described as a return to “the law of the jungle.”
“Safeguard the authority of the international rule of law. It can’t be ‘used when it suits us, discarded when it doesn’t,’ and we cannot allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle,” Xi was quoted as saying.
Strategic move at a delicate time
The idea is made at a delicate time for the area. Xi's remarks were made in the context of increased hostilities after Washington and Tehran's weekend negotiations broke down. The Chinese leader’s remarks were read as a pointed criticism of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, though Beijing has made only limited public comments on the conflict.
Xi’s intervention also came as China deepened engagement with the UAE.
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Premier Li Qiang held separate talks with the visiting crown prince on Monday, focusing on energy cooperation and the safety of Chinese citizens and projects in the country. Xi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Beijing next month.
