bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Alyssa Chen

Sylvie Zhuang

Beijing has voiced “grave concern” over the potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran and urged all sides to prevent further escalation.
Diplomatic observers also highlighted China’s potential in coordinating with stakeholders and brokering a ceasefire.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that China firmly opposed any violations of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as actions that “escalate the tension”.
“The sudden escalation in the region benefits no one,” Lin said. “China calls on all parties to take actions conducive to promoting regional peace and stability, while avoiding further deterioration of the situation.”
He added that China was prepared to play a constructive role in de-escalating the crisis.
Israel said it launched a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear programme and other military targets across the country and stated the attacks would last for several days.
Speaking to journalists on condition of anonymity, an Israeli military official said the Iranian government was advancing a “secret programme” to develop nuclear weapons, had thousands of ballistic missiles, and had been distributing weapons and arms to proxy groups across the region.
The strikes have fuelled mounting concerns that the long-standing tensions between the two nations could escalate into a full-scale war involving the two most powerful militaries in the Middle East.


Analysts said the trajectory of the development would partly hinge on Washington’s next steps, while Beijing held the potential to act as a mediator.
Zhu Yongbiao, professor at the school of politics and international relations at Lanzhou University, said much would depend on the degree of Iran’s restraint and the role of the US in the process.
“Specifically, whether the US will take significant measures to pressure Israel. As of now, the US appears unwilling to see the situation escalate further,” he said.
Zhu said he believed there was still room for Beijing to play a constructive role, such as by coordinating with Washington and Middle Eastern countries or under the United Nations frameworks.
The attack unfolded as Washington and Tehran were set to begin their sixth round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities on Sunday in Oman.
If an agreement were to be achieved, it could involve Washington easing some of its severe economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran significantly reducing or halting its uranium enrichment activities.
Since last month, Washington has taken a firmer stand in nuclear negotiations with Iran, insisting that any enrichment beyond zero is unacceptable. But Tehran has insisted on its right to maintain a civilian nuclear energy programme.
Li Weijian, senior research fellow at the Centre for West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, noted that China and Russia’s support for Iran’s peaceful use of nuclear energy – highlighted during a trilateral meeting in Beijing in March – bolstered Tehran’s confidence to reject US demands.
“On this point, China’s role in addressing the issue will be more and more important in the future,” he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was not involved in the strikes carried out by Israel against Iran. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Several Iranian nuclear scientists and high-level officials – including the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami – were confirmed to have been killed in the opening strikes.
But the Iranian foreign ministry pointed a finger at Washington, saying the Israeli attacks “could not have been carried out without coordination with and approval” of the US.
Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said the Israeli strikes would undermine the Washington-Tehran talks.
“The immediate impact of these strikes is that they will derail talks, crucial time will be lost, and the Iranian position will harden – if diplomacy can even be revived at this point. This is probably the result the Israelis were looking for,” he said.
“Trump’s diplomacy with Iran was as much of a target here as Iran’s nuclear programme,” Parsi added.
Li in Shanghai added that the regional developments “created a heightened sense of crisis” for Israel.
“It would be an unfavourable development for Israel if Washington no longer provided Israel with the unconditional support it has relied on in the past and even works to ease tensions with its primary rival, Iran, through negotiations,” he added.
A day before the attack, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors passed a resolution declaring Iran’s noncompliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years. China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against the resolution.
The region has been increasingly alarmed over Iran’s uranium enrichment activity, which has achieved 60 per cent purity – a major step towards weapons-grade material.

Yan Wei, deputy dean of the school of country and region studies at China’s Northwest University, said there was a possibility that it would evolve into a direct confrontation, but the outcome would depend on the international community’s mediation and intervention, especially from countries such as the US and China.
“If the US truly doesn’t want to see a larger-scale conflict between Iran and Israel, then current developments may not fully align with Trump’s strategic retreat from the Middle East,” Yan said.
“Under these circumstances, I believe a large-scale war between the two countries is still unlikely in the near term, but there remains the possibility of reciprocal attacks between Israel and Iran within a certain scope.”
Following the strikes, the Chinese embassies in Israel and Iran urged citizens to closely monitor the developments and take safety precautions against potential attacks.
Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter and head of research for the China-Mediterranean (ChinaMed) project at the University of Turin, said the developments could intensify concerns in Chinese policy circles about the stability of Iran’s government, particularly following Syria’s civil war and the weakening of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s government.
“[Chinese officials] might face difficult choices if the Iranian regime comes too close to falling: accept the loss or start to provide substantial support, for example, in the form of military assistance,” he said.
“For the moment, it is very likely that China will wait and see, and hope that the situation does not get worse.”
Additional reporting by Enoch Wong


China warns of fallout from Israel’s strikes on Iran – and eyes role in easing crisis

Smoke billows from a site in the Iranian capital Tehran early on Friday morning. Photo: AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces the launch of a targeted military operation against Iran in a video statement on Friday. Photo: AFP

News

China

Diplomacy

Beijing voices ‘grave concern’ over Israel’s attacks, while analysts say future of conflict depends on how the US and China intervene


Beijing voices ‘grave concern’ over Israel’s attacks, while analysts say future of conflict depends on how the US and China intervene.


China warns of fallout from Israel’s strikes on Iran – and eyes role in easing crisis

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Beijing voices ‘grave concern’ over Israel’s attacks, while analysts say future of conflict depends on how the US and China intervene

Beijing voices ‘grave concern’ over Israel’s attacks, while analysts say future of conflict depends on how the US and China intervene