March 19, 2026 | 05:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of China has announced the provision of emergency humanitarian aid to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, a decision made as humanitarian conditions deteriorate amid the widening Middle East conflict.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the assistance is specifically intended to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations.
"China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. It is hoped this will help alleviate the humanitarian plight faced by the local populations," Lin remarked during a press briefing, as reported by CNA on Tuesday, March 17.
The spokesperson, however, stopped short of providing details regarding the form or total value of the aid package.
Conflict Triggers Humanitarian Catastrophe
Now entering its third week, the conflict involves strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran and several regional neighbors, a situation that has severely exacerbated conditions in affected areas.
Lin characterized the ongoing hostilities as a grave crisis. "The ongoing conflict has inflicted excruciating humanitarian disasters on people of Iran and other regional countries. China deeply sympathizes with people in relevant countries and our hearts go out to them," he said, according to the Global Times.
Beijing also highlighted the escalation of the conflict, including Iran's retaliatory strikes against Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. Beijing believes this cycle of violence has the potential to further deepen the regional humanitarian crisis.
China Advocates for Immediate Ceasefire
In addition to providing aid, China reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for an end to the hostilities and the restoration of regional stability.
"China will continue to make every effort to promote peace and stop the war ... and to prevent further spreading of the humanitarian crisis," Lin said.
Diplomatic efforts are being spearheaded by China’s special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, who has been pushing for de-escalation in meetings with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister. This follows previous statements by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who maintained that the war should never have occurred and called for an immediate cessation of fighting.
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a planned visit to Beijing due to the volatility of the war. In a separate development, Washington has pressured Beijing to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, which handles approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, was shuttered by Iran in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli offensives.
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