NEW YORK: China firmly supports Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib in New York on Monday.
According to media reports, Israeli strikes Monday on Lebanon killed at least 558 people as of press time, in what is considered the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Thousands of families have also fled their homes as the Israeli military announced it had hit 1,600 Hezbollah targets in a campaign to destroy infrastructure that the armed group had built up since the 2006 war, BBC reported.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched over 200 rockets into northern Israel, according to Israeli military sources.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told the Lebanese Foreign Minister in New York that with a long-lasting traditional friendship with Lebanon, China has been closely following the latest developments in the region, especially the recent explosions of communication devices across Lebanon, and is firmly opposed to indiscriminate attacks against civilians, he said.
Force does not equate to rightness and violence against violence will not solve the problems in the Middle East, Wang said, adding that China strongly condemns any action that violates the basic norms governing international relations.
The current situation is a manifestation of the spillover effect of the conflicts in Gaza, and China calls for realizing a “permanent ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal of troops” and ensuring an effective implementation of “the two-state solution,” he said.
Wang voiced hope that the Lebanese side will take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Lebanon.
For his part, Bou Habib thanked China for speaking up for Lebanon at the United Nations and other multilateral occasions.
China is closely following the current tensions between Lebanon and Israel and feels deeply shocked by the heavy casualties inflicted by relevant military operations. China opposes any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday in response to the massive attacks by Israeli military in southern and eastern Lebanon, which have resulted in over 2,000 casualties.
“We oppose and condemn any move that harms innocent civilians. We call on relevant parties to take measures immediately to cool down the situation, prevent further escalation of tensions in the region, uphold peace and stability in the Middle East, and protect the safety of the people there,” Lin said.
Currently, the tension between Lebanon and Israel has escalated into nearly a full-scale military conflict, experts said. Israel has launched large-scale military operations against Lebanon, and there are indications that it may deploy more ground troops into southern Lebanon, Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi’an, told the Global Times om Tuesday.
The Israeli military warned residents in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of its widening air campaign against Hezbollah, AP reported.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the Israeli Defense Forces are fully prepared for a ground invasion of Lebanon if necessary, the Independent reported on Monday.
Wang Jin predicted the tension between Israel and Lebanon may deteriorate rapidly. If Israel sends ground troops to Lebanon, Hezbollah may increase its rocket and long-range missile attacks on Israeli territory. Additionally, other militant groups in the Middle East, such as Houthis in Yemen which the Hezbollah has close connection with, might also get involved in the conflict, leading to further escalation and spillover of the conflicts.
The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon on Tuesday reminded Chinese citizens residing in areas affected by attacks to return to China as soon as possible or to quickly relocate to safe areas to avoid risks. Those who need to stay in Lebanon should closely monitor the local situation and avoid traveling to high-risk areas.
