After typical compliments and expressions of support for the visiting leaders, President Xi presented MBZ with a four-point peace plan that felt as unclear as China’s prior proposals regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Even the state-run Global Times seemed to struggle to present Xi’s ideas as a coherent plan or clarify what the “four points” really entailed.
Xi emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence, highlighting the interconnectedness of Middle Eastern and Gulf nations. He called for efforts to enhance relationships among these countries and stressed the importance of establishing a collective, inclusive, and sustainable security framework for the region.
Perhaps “peaceful coexistence” implies that a peace plan might succeed simply if no one delves into specifics.
As for the other three points, they revolve around national sovereignty, international law, and cooperative security—all rather flexible concepts that can shape-shift according to China’s interests. It’s hard to imagine Taiwan or the Philippines being receptive to guidance on sovereignty from the Chinese government.
According to Global Times, Xi expressed China’s willingness to share the advantages of its modernization to bolster security and development in the Middle East.
This could be quite challenging considering the backdrop; Chinese technology’s past support for Iran against the US and Israel complicates matters. While MBZ was reportedly courteous with Xi, others in the Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council have faced ongoing and unjust treatment. Coordinating security with Iran likely isn’t a top priority right now, especially after its actions during Operation Epic Fury.
US intelligence officials suggest that China plans to supply new air defense systems to Iran shortly, a move that could severely damage its credibility as a mediator in the Middle East and provoke a serious backlash.
President Trump stated he wrote a letter to Xi asking him to refrain from supplying arms to Iran. In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Xi agreed to this request and expressed his approval of the US’s actions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s attempts to block it.
“When I visit soon, President Xi will give me a warm embrace. We’re collaborating effectively! Isn’t that preferable to conflict?” Trump remarked.
However, he also noted, “We excel at fighting when we need to—better than anyone else!”
Trump was originally meant to meet with Xi in March in Beijing, but that was postponed due to the unfolding situation with Iran. According to the White House, the Trump-Xi summit is now set for May 14th and 15th.
