At the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2026, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pushed back against US foreign policy. Han defended Middle Eastern sovereignty amid the US-Israel war with Iran and demanded an end to the US blockade on Cuba, which triggered a total grid collapse. These sharp remarks contrasted with the diplomatic bonhomie of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit with US President Donald Trump in Washington earlier that week.
Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng's criticisms of United States policies on September 26, 2026, contrasted with the diplomatic bonhomie displayed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit with United States President Donald Trump earlier that week
- ▪During the week of September 21, 2026, United States President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for a White House state dinner and National Archives visit on September 25, 2026, with military flyovers
- ▪Chinese Senior Diplomat Wang Yi accompanied Chinese President Xi Jinping on his trip to Washington during the week of September 21, 2026
US-China diplomatic friction over Iran
- ▪During bilateral talks in Washington, United States President Donald Trump warned Chinese President Xi Jinping against providing military or economic support to Iran
- ▪The United States ambassador to China stated on September 25, 2026, that Chinese President Xi Jinping provided assurances to United States President Donald Trump that China would not support Iran
- ▪Reports indicated that Beijing supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers and helped Tehran evade sanctions on its oil sales prior to September 2026
Han Zheng's address to the United Nations
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng's speech on September 26, 2026, made no direct mention of Taiwan, despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the self-governing island
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng did not mention the United States by name during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2026
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2026, emphasizing global development, multilateralism, and empowering the Global South
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng stated on September 26, 2026, that international disputes should be settled through dialogue and consultation rather than unilateral military actions
Criticism of United States foreign policy
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng urged the United States on September 26, 2026, to immediately stop threatening Cuba and completely lift its economic blockade and sanctions against the island
- ▪Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng both criticized United States foreign policy regarding Iran and Cuba during their speeches at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2026
- ▪Chinese Vice President Han Zheng stated at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2026, that the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern countries, including the Gulf, must be respected
Debatable claims
- ▪The United States should immediately lift its economic blockade on Cuba
- ▪China is justified in maintaining its economic and military ties with Iran despite US pressure
- ▪China's Belt and Road Initiative is primarily a tool to expand its geopolitical influence
- ▪The United States' military action against Iran is justified
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