Military adventurism risky Middle East bet: China Daily editorial

The clamor caused by the United States' unilateral actions against Venezuela and its land-grab attempt of European territory shouldn't mask the fact that tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point due to its transactional geopolitical calculus.

Over three months after the first phase of the ceasefire deal in Gaza was reached, Israeli military strikes have yet to stop. As China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong urged in a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, it is incumbent on all parties, Israel in particular, to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement and work toward a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains grave. The United Kingdom, Canada, France and eight other countries on Wednesday rightly condemned Israel's demolition of the UN's Palestinian relief agency building in occupied Palestinian territory, saying it represents the latest "unacceptable move" by the Middle Eastern nation to undermine the UN's ability to operate.

Meanwhile, with the US still unquestioningly supporting Israel — deploying aircraft carriers to the region and threatening military action against Iran — the shadows of war are looming large over the region. The world should be vigilant to the military adventurism that has reared its ugly head in the escalation of tensions with Iran.

As Fu stressed, Iran's sovereignty must be respected and its legitimate concerns should be addressed through peaceful means. To that end, all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to threats and coercion. History has repeatedly proved that the use of force doesn't solve problems, and that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable path to peace and stability. However, Israel's military actions and the US' support are pushing the entire Gulf region dangerously toward war.

The path to peace in the region is to resolve the Palestinian question with the two-state solution, respect the sovereignty and choices of regional countries and adhere to the principle of resolving differences through political dialogue and consultation. Opposing external interference while promoting development and stability is essential to addressing both the symptoms and root causes of the regional problems.

In the process, the UN should play a leading role in monitoring the ceasefire, providing humanitarian assistance and overseeing the postwar arrangements and other issues, so as to prevent "small circles" or "camp confrontation".

Regional countries should work together to establish an autonomous security architecture. China's efforts in mediating the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran offer a constructive example for regional countries to explore workable paths to peace and security.

Gaza's future, the broader Palestinian question and peace in the region as a whole hinge on the two-state solution and accommodating the legitimate concerns of all Middle Eastern nations. But the starting point for that is the immediate cessation of all hostilities. China's commitment to supporting Palestine's role in post-conflict governance reflects the broader international responsibility to foster peace and stability in the region. The UN Security Council, with its mandate to maintain international peace and security, must continue to engage actively in this process, ensuring that the situation in Gaza remains a global priority and that Iran's sovereignty and security are not violated.

If Washington and Tel Aviv intend to join forces to attack Iran, which they claim to be the biggest "threat" in the Middle East, they will soon discover that they are merely opening Pandora's box once again, unleashing a new round of chaos in the Middle East that they will be unable to control.