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 China’s largest publication, the Global Times.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his Lebanese counterpart that China, which maintains a long-standing traditional friendship with Lebanon, is closely following recent developments in the region, especially the recent explosions of communications devices. Beijing resolutely opposes indiscriminate attacks on civilians, he said.
“Force does not equal justice, and violence against violence will not solve the problems in the Middle East,” Wang Yi said, adding that China strongly condemns any action that violates the basic norms governing international relations.
The current situation is a side effect of the conflicts in Gaza, and China calls for a “permanent ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal of troops” and guarantees the effective implementation of the “two-state solution.” – said.
The Chinese minister expressed his hope that the Lebanese side will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Lebanon.
Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have now escalated to almost a full-scale military conflict, Chinese experts say. Israel has launched large-scale military operations against Lebanon and there are signs that it may send more ground troops to southern Lebanon, he told the Global Times on Tuesday. Wang JinAssociate Professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University in Xi’an.
The Israeli military has warned residents of southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of an increasingly widening air campaign against Hezbollah, AP reported.
Representative of the Rear Admiral of the Israel Defense Forces Daniel Hagari He said the Israel Defense Forces were fully prepared for a ground invasion of Lebanon if necessary, The Independent newspaper reported.
The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon on Tuesday reminded Chinese citizens living in areas affected by the attacks to return to China as soon as possible or quickly move to safe areas to avoid risks. Those who must stay in Lebanon should closely monitor the situation on the ground and avoid traveling to high-risk areas.
In turn, the China Daily newspaper recalled that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres The UN expressed “serious alarm” at the escalation of tensions in the region and raised serious concerns for the safety of civilians, including UN staff. It called for an immediate reduction of tensions and a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
