Combined China and US pressure could get warring sides to talk peace

Israel’s air strikes on Iran and military incursions into southern Lebanon against local Islamic militant group Hezbollah are visible defeats for US diplomacy aimed at de-escalation in the Middle East. China is getting involved, too, but it is still not a credible alternative to the United States as a mediating power in world crises.

In separate phone calls with his Israeli and Iranian counterparts, Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and urged all sides to work for regional peace and stability. At the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Wang said of Russia’s war in Ukraine that “China is committed to playing a constructive role, engaging in shuttle mediation and promoting talks for peace”.

China is gaining stature on the world diplomatic stage. However, while the US is ready to take the risk of failing with its diplomatic actions, Beijing is not. The Chinese, it seems, are willing to participate in peace processes and whisper possible solutions – or, at most, facilitate talks – when actually, to play an indispensable role, they should be exerting pressure on warring parties.