At the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivered an address criticizing unilateral military actions that bypass the United Nations Security Council.
The speech followed high-level bilateral discussions between the United States and China. Just two days prior, on September 24, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at a summit in Washington. While U.S. officials subsequently asserted that Beijing had agreed to restrict its backing of Iran, Han’s UN statements underscored persistent strategic divides between Washington and Beijing.
Following the Washington summit, U.S. Ambassador to China David Purdue stated in a CNBC interview on September 25 that President Trump had warned President Xi that Chinese direct or indirect support to Iran—including intelligence, components, and military equipment—was entirely unacceptable. Purdue told Fox News that Beijing had provided a guarantee to the U.S. that it would not support Iran and that active steps were already underway. However, official readouts published by Beijing regarding the summit did not mention any such concessions.
China maintains a comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran, opposes unilateral sanctions against Tehran, and remains a primary buyer of Iranian crude oil. During his UN General Assembly address, Han emphasized opposition to unilateralism driven by specific major powers, advocating instead for an international order rooted in multilateralism. He stated that all nations, large and small, are equal members of the international community and that global affairs must be resolved through consultation.
In addition to his remarks on the Middle East, the Chinese Vice President addressed international pressure on Cuba. Han demanded that relevant nations immediately halt military threats against Cuba and completely lift ongoing blockades and sanctions. Since January, U.S. restrictions targeting oil supplies to Cuba have triggered widespread, continuous blackouts across the island nation, accompanied by U.S. sanctions targeting key Cuban officials.
FAQ
- What was the main message of China’s statement at the UN General Assembly? Chinese Vice President Han Zheng criticized unilateral military actions bypassing the UN Security Council and called for the protection of sovereignty for Middle Eastern and other nations through multilateral cooperation.
- How did the UN address follow the U.S.-China summit? The speech occurred two days after a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, where U.S. officials claimed Beijing agreed to halt support for Iran—though Chinese readouts omitted this detail.
- What did China demand regarding Cuba? Han Zheng called for the immediate cessation of military threats against Cuba and the total lifting of economic blockades and sanctions that have contributed to severe energy shortages on the island.
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