Beijing takes a stand at the United Nations at the closure of shipping lanes
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenFan ChenPublished: 8:00pm, 3 Apr 2026In a rare condemnation of its strategic partner, China has come out in opposition to Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations, calling for a ceasefire and a guarantee of the safety of shipping lanes.Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said: “China does not support Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council nations and condemns all indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians and non-military targets. The security of shipping lanes must not be disrupted.”
In recent years, Europe has replaced its dependency on Russian pipeline gas with reliance on global liquefied natural gas, particularly from Qatar, making it more vulnerable to maritime chokepoints such as the Hormuz.
