context: The PRC's peace plans, such as those on the Israeli-Hamas conflict or the resolution of the Ukraine crisis, contain few details and are meant to avoid friction or controversy. For this reason, they are often regarded as vague. The PRC and Pakistan's joint proposal on the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East is no different—it is worded broadly and addressed to 'all parties.' The document moves beyond generalities only by focusing on the Strait of Hormuz, with ensuring safe passage as the most clearly stated priority.
Wang Yi 王毅 PRC foreign minister and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan deputy prime minister and foreign minister, met in Beijing on 31 March, to review the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East. They proposed the following
- immediate cessation of hostilities
- the PRC and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading
- humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas
- start of peace talks as soon as possible
- sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded
- dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts
- the PRC and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to a peaceful resolution of disputes and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks
- security of nonmilitary targets
- the principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed
- the PRC and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to
- immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets
- fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law
- stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants
- security of shipping lanes
- the Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy
- the PRC and Pakistan call on the parties to
- protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
- allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships
- restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible
- primacy of the UN Charter
- the PRC and Pakistan call for efforts to
- practice true multilateralism
- jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN
- support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realising lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law
- the PRC and Pakistan call for efforts to