Extending the ceasefire comes at a critical moment in the Middle East: China

China has expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warning on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, that the region stands at a critical crossroads between war and peace.

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire indefinitely to allow Iran more time for negotiations, Beijing emphasized that preventing the resumption of hostilities must be the top priority.

While the ceasefire offers a temporary reprieve, Trump's insistence on maintaining a strict naval blockade on Iranian ports and Tehran's silence regarding the proposed second round of talks in Islamabad have kept the international community on edge.