Putin and Xi Say U.S.-Israel Strike on Iran Violated International Law

The presidents of China and Russia, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, today (Wednesday) condemned the joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran. They accused the United States and Israel of violating international law by attacking Iran, and expressed their "firm opposition to hegemonism and unilateralism."

The leaders' statement also said the attack disrupted balances and created dangers. According to them, "the global agenda of peace and development faces new risks and challenges, with the danger of the international community splintering and being swept back to the 'law of the jungle.'"

The two also spoke out against President Donald Trump's missile defense shield plans and Washington's "irresponsible" nuclear policy. That was reported by Reuters.

At a state meeting held in Beijing, a week after he hosted President Trump, the Chinese president noted that he "seeks stable and constructive relations with Trump, but fundamentally disagrees with him on key issues where China's position is closely aligned with Russia's."

The joint Russia-China statement said that "Trump's plan for a ground- and space-based missile interception system threatens global strategic stability. Washington acted improperly in allowing a treaty limiting the nuclear arsenal of the United States and Russia to expire."

As recalled, the treaty expired in February, and Trump did not respond to Moscow's proposal to extend its missile and warhead limits by a year. According to Reuters, "American politicians argued that extending the treaty would have prevented the U.S. from responding to China's nuclear buildup."

Xi and Putin, who have met more than 40 times, both emphasized the closeness of ties between Russia and China, which they formalized in 2022 by signing a strategic partnership agreement, less than three weeks before Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow signaled ahead of the visit that it is seeking additional energy agreements with China, the largest buyer of Russian oil, including pipeline supply and seaborne shipments.

"China-Russia relations have reached this level because we have succeeded in deepening mutual political trust and strategic cooperation," Xi said. Putin said relations between Russia and China "have reached a real level. An unprecedented level, and they should continue to develop."