'World order is crumbling,' Xi says as Iran war strains global stability

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said the global system is weakening as conflicts intensify, during a meeting in Beijing with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with the Iran war adding pressure on international stability.

“World order is crumbling into disarray,” Xi said, as he called for closer coordination between China and Spain to respond to rising geopolitical tensions.

Xi said China-Spain relations have “developed steadily, injecting stability into China-EU relations,” and added that both sides should “strengthen communication, mutual trust and cooperate closely.” He also said the two countries should “defend genuine multilateralism.”

Also Read| 'Don't meddle in our affairs': China backs Iran, warns US against interference after Hormuz blockade

The meeting at the Great Hall of the People came on the second day of Sánchez’s visit, which is focused on strengthening economic ties. It also comes as both countries have criticised US-Israeli military action against Iran and called for peace.

Spain has taken a strong position on the Iran conflict, with Sánchez earlier describing the US-Israeli action as “illegal.” The country has closed its airspace to US warplanes involved in the conflict and is not allowing the use of its military bases for such operations. At the same time, Spain has criticised Iran’s response and warned of risks to regional stability.

China has also opposed the strikes on Iran and warned they could deepen instability in the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged efforts to promote peace talks, saying the current truce is fragile and must be maintained.

This was the fourth meeting between Xi and Sánchez in just over three years, as Spain seeks to position itself as a link between Beijing and the European Union at a time when EU-US relations are under strain.

During the meeting, Sánchez said he aimed to work with China to address global challenges. He said the two countries should “contribute to providing solutions to the various trade tensions, the difficulties and geopolitical complexities of today’s world, the wars, and the environmental and social challenges affecting the world.”

Also Read| The Hormuz blockade is a throwdown the US can't win

Ahead of the talks, Sánchez also called on China to play a larger role in resolving conflicts. “China can do more — for example, by demanding, as it is already doing, that international law be upheld and that conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine come to an end,” he said.

Sánchez is seeking stronger economic engagement with China, though he has also raised concerns over trade. He described China’s trade imbalance with the European Union as “unsustainable” during his visit.

The visit comes amid a steady flow of Western leaders to Beijing in recent months, as US tariff policies and foreign policy shifts have created uncertainty among traditional allies, while the Iran war continues to test