China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Wednesday urged Israel to immediately cease all military operations in the Gaza Strip and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East.
The Middle East region has been mired in turmoil for quite some time and the new round of conflict in Gaza has caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, Fu said at a United Nations Security Council meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
"China urges Israel to immediately cease all military operations in Gaza, uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law, fully restore access to humanitarian supplies, and support aid efforts by the U.N. and other humanitarian agencies. China firmly supports the work of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher," Fu said.
He also raised concerns over the situation in other parts of the Middle East, calling for regional peace and stability.
"Israel's continuous attacks on Syria and Lebanon and its maintenance of illegal military presence have exacerbated tensions. The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Syria and Lebanon must be fully respected, and the relevant Security Council resolutions should be strictly observed. If the Middle East is unstable, the world will not be at peace. The Middle East cannot remain under the shadow of conflict forever, and the people of the region cannot continue to live in the unease of war," Fu said.
At the meeting, the Chinese envoy also talked about the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that facts have proved war cannot resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and political settlement is the only way. He urged respect for Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The relevant countries should abandon the practice of arbitrarily making threat or exerting pressure. Otherwise, it will only intensify tensions and confrontation and even further undermine diplomatic efforts, according to the Chinese envoy.
Chinese envoy stresses importance of peace, stability in Middle East
Chinese envoy stresses importance of peace, stability in Middle East
Chinese envoy stresses importance of peace, stability in Middle East
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
