China’s Wang Yi Criticizes U.S. and Defends Multilateral Order at Annual Press Briefing

Members of the media raise hands to ask questions as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds a press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, China, March 8, 2026. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi forcefully denounced the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, saying the conflict “should never have happened.” Wang restated Beijing’s call for a ceasefire and renewed his offer to help mediate an end to the conflict.

Wang, who is also a member of the powerful Politburo, made the remarks on Sunday on the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary gathering in Beijing, in what has become a tradition in which he takes questions from both Chinese and international journalists.

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by Eric Olander

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