Pressat Kina lägger fram fredsplan om Iran

TT

Updated 19.25 | Published 17.02

            

           A cargo ship on its way through the Persian Gulf towards the Strait of Hormuz. Archive image.                   Photo: AP/TT

China and Pakistan have developed a five-point plan to end the war in the Middle East.

That China is emerging as an active mediator may be partly due to the country being under pressure, according to China expert Björn Jerdén.

The proposal includes, among other things, a point on “immediate ceasefire” and a call to begin peace talks “as soon as possible”, according to Pakistan.

Another point concerns the safety of shipping lanes in the region. There, Islamabad and Beijing want the parties to “maintain the safety of ships and crews stranded in the Strait of Hormuz” and that merchant ships are allowed to pass “as soon as possible”.

Difficult for China

Pakistan has previously taken a central role in the negotiations to end the war. The fact that China is now also joining in may indicate growing concern about the consequences of the war, according to Björn Jerdén, head of the National Knowledge Centre on China at the Swedish Institute for Foreign Policy.

– The current situation is difficult, the lack of gas and oil imports is a direct blow to China, he says.

– The long-term effects that the conflict could have on the world economy are also worrying. China is a major trading nation and a weaker world economy and lower growth will have a negative impact on the country.

But it is not just economic concerns that are causing China to emerge – the country can also benefit from a more prominent role, says Jerdén.

– China has often had a somewhat withdrawn role in this type of military crisis and has been, with some exceptions, quite cautious. But if China proves to be a responsible country that can help and achieve a peaceful solution to a global crisis, it could benefit the country in the form of higher prestige.

“Not typical”

With the five-point plan, China is signaling that it is ready to take a more active role, says Jerdén – who at the same time does not want to exaggerate the significance of the country's development of the peace plan.

– But if it were to lead to China really stepping in as some kind of guarantor for a solution to the conflict, albeit temporary, then it is not typical. Then we will see if it is realistic.