Beijing, (TDI): China has expressed strong opposition to any actions that infringe on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, following a series of deadly pager and radio bomb attacks in the country.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday voiced concerns over the potential escalation of tensions in the region triggered by these incidents.
The remarks came after multiple explosions involving civilian communication devices in southern Lebanon, which resulted in significant casualties.
Chinese experts highlighted the growing dangers posed by the weaponization of civilian electronic devices in modern warfare, pinpointing security vulnerabilities in the global supply chain of such equipment.
The hand-held radios used by the armed group Hezbollah detonated on Wednesday, marking Lebanon’s deadliest day since cross-border violence between Hezbollah and Israel began nearly a year ago.
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Lebanon’s health ministry reported 20 deaths and over 450 injuries in Beirut’s suburbs and the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, while Tuesday’s pager explosions left 12 dead, including two children, and nearly 3,000 injured.
China is closely monitoring the situation and has urged all parties to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
Condemnations
Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the pager detonations, calling them an “Israeli aggression.”
Hezbollah warned that Israel would face “fair punishment” for the attacks.
Israel, however, has not yet commented directly on the incidents.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that the “center of gravity is moving northward” during a visit to an airbase on Wednesday.
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Israeli forces bombed southern Lebanon on Thursday, claiming to have thwarted an “Iran-backed assassination plot.”
Israeli security services stated that they had arrested an Israeli citizen last month on suspicion of involvement in plans to assassinate high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The attacks have drawn global condemnation, with UN human rights chief Volker Turk describing the blasts as “shocking” and their impact on civilians as “unacceptable.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all nations to refrain from weaponizing civilian objects, stressing the need to protect non-combatants in conflict zones.
