The world "likes" China's mediation on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran

 Under the mediation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the "old enemies" in the Middle East, shook hands and made peace. On the 10th, China, Saudi Arabia and Iran signed and issued a joint statement, announcing that Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations. As soon as the joint statement was issued, the international community responded enthusiastically. They welcomed the reconciliation between the two major countries in the Middle East and praised China for its role in promoting peace talks. "The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has opened a new page", "For Middle East diplomacy, this is a huge progress", "an epoch-making milestone"... Many international media gave positive comments. However, compared to the international community's general welcome to the joint statement, the United States, which has always regarded itself as having an important influence in the Middle East, is a bit "sour". According to US media analysis, the United States not only hopes that Saudi Arabia and other countries will be responsible for their own security issues, but also worries that allies will get rid of the influence of the United States.

"Promoting China's image as a responsible major country"

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through his spokesperson on the 10th, welcoming the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and thanked China for facilitating the dialogue. Guterres said that the good-neighborly friendship between Saudi Arabia and Iran will help promote stability in the Gulf region. The Arab world also expressed their views at the first time. Qatar Al Jazeera reported that Jassim Mohammad al-Budawi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, welcomed the agreement to restore relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and all initiatives that will help strengthen security and peace in the region. Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Bahrain and other countries also welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In addition, the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 10th, welcoming the tripartite joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia, Iran and China, and decided to restore diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Iran.

"China has stepped forward and opened a new era in world politics," the website "Indian Quotations" reported on the 11th with this title, saying that China's mediation means that we are witnessing profound changes in the geopolitical plate in the 21st century. To a world audience - especially countries like India, Vietnam, Turkey, Brazil or South Africa - China presents a salutary example of how a democratized multipolar world might work in the future - how great power diplomacy may Build on consensus, reconciled politics, trade and interdependence, and drive a win-win outcome. Russia's "Kommersant" stated that the laurels of "peacemaker" fell on Beijing. Through this negotiation and mediation, China once again demonstrated its powerful role in world peace. "Voice of America" quoted Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute for Sino-US Relations at the Wilson Center, as saying that this is "a milestone in China's diplomacy." It took several years of steadfast work to achieve this goal.

Ezzat, executive director of the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Council, said in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times on the 12th that the successful agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic ties demonstrates China's wisdom and the image of a responsible major country. China respects the sovereignty and development models of all countries in the Middle East, and always advocates that each country independently decides its own future. As for differences between them, China advocates resolving differences through political channels through consultation and dialogue. China actively promotes the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, setting an example for countries in the region to resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, and to achieve good-neighborliness and friendship. It has made admirable and positive contributions and has been widely praised by countries in the region and the international community.

A New Era Begins in the Middle East

U.S. President Biden commented on the Shay reconciliation on the 10th, saying: "The better the relationship between Israel and its neighbors, the better it is for everyone." The U.S. media pointed out that Biden may have mistakenly referred to Iran as Israel. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the National Security Council of the United States, said that the United States supports any efforts to ease tensions, but he changed the subject and declared that the United States will continue to pay attention to China's "struggling for influence and footholds around the world for its own self-interest." practice".

On the 11th, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that China has no self-interest in the Middle East, respects the status of the master of the Middle East, opposes geopolitical competition in the Middle East, and will not intend to fill the so-called "vacuum". "Or engage in an exclusive coterie. China always believes that the future of the Middle East should be in the hands of Middle Eastern countries, supports the people of the Middle East in independently exploring development paths, supports Middle Eastern countries in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly promotes long-term peace and stability in the region.

The US "Wall Street Journal" said on the 11th that China's successful mediation marks the beginning of a new era in the Middle East. The new reality: With the U.S. increasingly focused on Ukraine and Asia, the Middle East is grappling with past conflicts and tensions, and past regional divisions are being turned. Over the years, China has been demonstrating the difference between China's efforts and the US's, that is, China can negotiate with all parties involved, and will not engage in human rights preaching. The report also mentioned that a noteworthy content in the "Global Security Initiative Concept Paper" released by China in February is that China is committed to "peacefully resolving differences and disputes among countries through dialogue and consultation, and supports all measures that are conducive to peacefully resolving crises." effort". Vox News quoted former U.S. diplomat Chas Freeman as saying that this does not mean that China is trying to replace the U.S. security role in the Middle East. "Instead, China is trying to create a peaceful, international environment there where you can do business."

American Ambivalence

The U.S. media pointedly pointed out the U.S. government’s contradictory mentality: it hopes that Saudi Arabia and other countries will be responsible for their own security issues, but also worries that allies will get rid of the influence of the United States. The "New York Times" reported on the 11th that over the past few decades, the United States has been the dominant force in the Middle East. As long as major events happen in the Middle East, the United States cannot be separated. But at the moment of major change when Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations, the United States was excluded. China's huge achievement has greatly enhanced its diplomatic status, and this achievement of China exceeds any achievement of the United States in the region since Biden took office. Matt Duss, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the Washington Post that the warming of Saudi-Iranian relations has potential implications: Middle Eastern countries can achieve ties without requiring a lot of benefits and security guarantees from the United States. ease. Jon Altman, a Middle East scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in the United States, said: "It (the Biden administration) wants the Saudis to take more and more responsibility for their own security, but it doesn't want the Saudis to act on their own, or even undermine the United States. security strategy."

RIA Novosti published an article entitled "The post-American world has begun in the Middle East" on the 11th, saying that the Middle East no longer trusts the United States. As such, they place great emphasis on aligning their strategy and developing relations with other global powers, starting with those that are committed to a post-American world order. Al Jazeera quoted Schlein, an expert at the Quincy Institute in Washington, as suggesting that the United States must work hard to promote peace and prosperity for the people in the region, not just arms sales and security assistance.