Recently, the US and Israel, without consulting or obtaining authorization from the UN Security Council, brazenly launched military strikes against Iran. This act flagrantly tramples on international law and basic norms governing international relations, pushing the situation in the Middle East toward the brink of an abyss. The international community must consolidate efforts to promote peace, steer the situation toward de-escalation, and jointly defend international law and basic norms governing international relations.
The prohibition of the use of force constitutes the cornerstone of the contemporary international system's security architecture. As early as before WWII, the Kellogg-Briand Pact had established this consensus. After the end of WWII, the Charter of the United Nations further established a safeguard mechanism to end war and maintain peace, explicitly stipulating that members shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The vitality of international law lies in its universality, and its authority lies in its inviolability. The wanton trampling of international rule of law by the US and Israel not only disrupts the Middle East but also undermines the very foundation of world peace.
Following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a wave of opposition has emerged from the international community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres explicitly stated that the Charter of the United Nations provides the foundation for maintaining international peace and security, and that international law and international humanitarian law must always be respected. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) issued a statement, emphasizing that the use of force is unacceptable, and supporting the resolution of the current conflict on the basis of dialogue, mutual respect, and consideration for the legitimate concerns of all parties, in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The League of Arab States (LAS) called on the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the situation, lest the region descend into an ever-deepening cycle of instability and violence.
How a country treats international law and the international order reflects its worldview, its view of order, and its sense of responsibility. The use of force cannot truly resolve problems; on the contrary, it creates new problems and severe after-effects. The international community must act to jointly defend international law and the basic norms governing international relations.
Military actions must cease immediately. The tragic attack on an Iranian elementary school has shocked the conscience of humanity. The security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy passageway, has also been severely impacted, and the risk of more actors being drawn into the conflict is rising sharply. The pressing need is to prevent further escalation of tensions and avert the expansion and spread of warfare across the entire Middle East region.
Dialogue and negotiation should be resumed as soon as possible. Peacefully resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means is the only correct option and serves the common interests of the international community. Faced with this grave situation, the relevant parties should resume dialogue and negotiation promptly, support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in fulfilling its duties objectively and impartially, and steer the Iranian nuclear issue back onto the right track of peaceful resolution.
Unilateral acts must be met with unanimous opposition. No major country is allowed to arbitrarily attack other nations by its military superiority. The world must not regress to an age when the "Law of the Jungle" prevails. The international community should send a clear and unequivocal message to resolutely oppose unilateral bullying and the threat of force in international relations, oppose the imposition of one country's will on others, and oppose the subjugation of justice by power politics.
Currently, the conflict continues and the situation is escalating. Faced with this highly dangerous circumstance, the international community should stand firmly on the side of peace, on the side of fairness and justice, and jointly work for the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East. As a responsible major country, China will work together with the international community to actively promote peace and cease hostilities, playing a constructive role in de-escalating regional tensions and safeguarding peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large.
Editor's note: Originally published on people.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.