China to provide relief aid as Middle East war worsens

China has said it will send emergency humanitarian aid to countries in the Middle East affected by the ongoing conflict, including Iran and Lebanon.

The fighting, which has lasted for about three weeks, involves strikes by the United States and Israel.

China, a close ally of Iran, has called on both countries to stop the attacks. At the same time, it also criticised Iran for carrying out strikes on Gulf countries that host U.S. military bases.

Speaking on Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, said the war has caused serious humanitarian problems in Iran and other parts of the Middle East.

He explained that China will provide emergency support to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to help people affected by the crisis. However, he did not give details about the type or amount of aid.

Lin added that China will continue working to promote peace, stop the war, and prevent the crisis from getting worse.

China has also been trying to help reduce tensions. Its special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, recently met with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister to discuss ways to calm the situation. China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has also said the war should not have happened and called for an end to the fighting.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump delayed his planned visit to Beijing because of the conflict. He has also asked China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil usually passes, has been effectively shut by Iran in response to the strikes by the U.S. and Israel.