Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed grave concern over the ongoing military standoff between Israel and Iran, which he said threatens stability in the Middle East and the interests of the global community. Speaking at a summit of Central Asian leaders in Astana, organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Xi stressed the need for restraint and a diplomatic solution, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported, stressing that Beijing opposes any actions that violate the sovereignty and security of other states.

“The conflict between Israel and Iran is undermining regional peace and endangering international economic ties,” Xi said. He called on both sides to eschew military solutions, which he said would only worsen the crisis. The Chinese leader noted that instability in the Middle East could disrupt global supply chains, especially in the energy sector, which is especially sensitive for China, which imports about 15% of its oil from Iran, according to Reuters.

The conflict, which began with Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets on June 13, has led to retaliatory attacks by Tehran, including rocket attacks on Israeli cities. According to Al Jazeera, Iran has fired more than 100 missiles and drones in the last XNUMX hours alone, some of which have hit civilian targets. Israel, in turn, has struck military bases in the Iranian provinces of Hamadan and Lorestan.

China’s position reflects its strategic interests. According to the South China Morning Post, Beijing has invested more than $20 billion in Iranian infrastructure as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, including ports and oil pipelines. Disruption of oil supplies through the Iranian-controlled Strait of Hormuz could cause serious damage to the Chinese economy.