China's Middle East envoy Zhai Jun made a urgent plea for peace during his visit to Bahrain on March 12, 2026, calling for immediate protection of civilians and shipping lanes as regional tensions reach boiling point. 🔥
Diplomatic Push for Peace
"The red line of protecting civilians must not be crossed," Zhai declared during talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. He emphasized that attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping routes must stop, stating: "The indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable." 🚫💣
Regional Reactions
Bahrain praised China's "impartial and just" stance, with Zayani welcoming Beijing's shuttle diplomacy. The Gulf nation stressed its commitment to dialogue while criticizing "unwarranted attacks" in the region. Iran also faced calls to ensure safe passage through international waterways. ⚓️🌐
Zhai's Middle East tour comes weeks after February's U.S.-Israeli-Iran clashes, with China positioning itself as a peace broker. The envoy reiterated: "The pressing priority is to halt military operations" and prevent wider conflict. 🇨🇳🕊️
Reference(s):
China's Middle East envoy urges safeguarding civilians, shipping lanes
cgtn.com
