China on Thursday urged the United States to “stop hyping up” rhetoric about the Chinese threat after a U.S. intelligence report said Beijing was unlikely to invade Taiwan next year.In response to the report, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Washington should be “cautious in its words and deeds” on the Taiwan issue, correct its understanding of China, and avoid amplifying its perception of threats. When asked about the report, he said at a press conference that “the United States should… be cautious in its words and deeds on the Taiwan issue” and should “correct its understanding of China and stop hyping up the China threat theory.” In a separate statement, Beijing also condemned the Israeli airstrike that killed senior Iranian leader Ali Larijani, calling the attack “unacceptable.”Still, China, a close partner of Iran, has criticized Tehran’s attacks on Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, reflecting its efforts to balance relations in the region.
“We have always opposed the use of force in international relations. Killing Iranian leaders and attacking civilian targets are even more unacceptable,” Lin said, urging all parties to immediately stop military operations to prevent further escalation of the situation.Beijing has stepped up diplomatic outreach in recent weeks, with its Middle East envoy Zhai Jun holding talks with regional officials. In these contacts, China has emphasized that civilian infrastructure must not be targeted and that important shipping routes should remain safe.China’s Foreign Ministry also said earlier this week that China would provide humanitarian aid to conflict-affected countries such as Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, positioning itself as a mediator calling for restraint.
