By Thobile Jiwulane:
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to South Africa, Wu Peng, on Thursday night unveiled the Five-Point Initiative of China and Pakistan for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region, underscoring the crucial role that the Global South plays in ensuring peace and stability in the world.
Speaking at the media launch of Sino-SA Media Club held at the Summit in Menlyn, Pretoria on Thursday evening, convey the details of the initiative, which is designed to facilitate the end of the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The war erupted after both Israel and the US attacked Iran in what was seen by the international community, including most Western countries, as an act of aggression by Tel Aviv and Washington against Tehran.
Wu announced at the event Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Mr. Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on 31 March 2026 to review the situation in the Gulf and Middle East Region. The two sides put forward the following:
I. Immediate Cessation of Hostilities: China 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.
II. 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 are the only viable options to resolve conflicts. China 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.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets: The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes: The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China 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, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter: China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the U.N., and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.
Background to the Conflict
The Persian Gulf war between Israel, the United States, and Iran erupted on 28 February 2026, following the collapse of nuclear negotiations and escalating military buildups. Tehran accused Washington of negotiating in bad faith, claiming the US abandoned talks only to join Israel in launching coordinated strikes against Iranian infrastructure.
The joint US-Israeli assault targeted oil depots, steel plants, and bridges, killing senior military figures and culminating in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on US bases in neighbouring states and strikes deep inside Israel, including direct hits on Tel Aviv.
As Washington threatened a ground invasion, Iran demonstrated resilience in aerial battles, deploying drones and missiles with precision. The conflict triggered a global energy crisis after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to attack any vessel linked to the US or Israel. The strait was conditionally reopened to ships from select countries, underscoring Iran’s leverage over global trade routes.
Diplomatic Interventions and Strategic Stakes
China and Pakistan have stepped forward with a Five-Point Initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the launch of peace talks. The plan builds on China’s earlier success mediating the 2023 rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a breakthrough hailed as a “wave of reconciliation” that boosted Beijing’s credibility as a regional mediator.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has long played a shuttle role in West Asia, relaying US messages to Tehran and offering to host dialogue. In 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to easing tensions, safeguarding shipping through the Strait, and engaging Saudi Arabia in efforts to stabilize the Gulf. By positioning itself as a bridge between Washington, Tehran, and Riyadh, Pakistan has sought to enhance its regional relevance.
The diplomatic push has injected cautious hope into a world grappling with surging energy prices and fears of the conflict spreading across the Gulf. Analysts warn that the war threatens global energy supplies, heightens nuclear risks, and tests the balance of power between US-led and China-led diplomacy—two tracks that increasingly appear to be moving in opposite directions. – @NewsSA_Online
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