Western Leaders Strengthen Relations With China as Iranian War Continues

Several Western leaders have met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this year to discuss strengthening relations as the Iranian war continues. 

Spain and China: On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez began a four-day visit to Beijing to strengthen Spain's political and commercial ties with China. During the visit, Sanchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, including on climate change and security. He also discussed narrowing Spain's $50 billion trade deficit with Beijing. On Tuesday, both leaders pledged to safeguard multilateralism by strengthening communication and cooperating closely; Xi commended Spain saying, "both [nations] are willing to stand on the right side of history." It's Sanchez's fourth trip to China in three years as Spain said it wants to diversify its political relations and seeks to establish itself as a bridge between Beijing and the European Union.

International Order: According to Bloomberg (Lean Left bias), Xi described a collapse of Western-led international order as the Iranian war continues, telling Sanchez it's "crumbling in disarray." Xi has criticized the US' military action in Iran, saying it "risks plunging the Middle East into deeper instability," Bloomberg reported. In a meeting with Abu Dhabi's crown prince on Tuesday, Xi said, "We cannot allow the world to revert to the law of the jungle." Xi also shared a peace proposal with the crown prince, which included promoting coexistence, sovereignty, rule of international law and the pursuit of development and security. 

Other Countries: Prime ministers from Britain, Ireland, Canada and Finland have also met with Beijing this year to discuss deepening global relations. In January, Britain and China called for a "strategic partnership" amid "the current turbulent and ever-changing international situation," according to Associated Press (Left). The Irish Prime Minister also met with Xi in January–the first official visit by an Irish leader to China in 14 years–to discuss strengthening strategy, economic and trade ties. On April 9, China and Taiwan's opposition leader met for the first time in a decade. Xi cited ongoing global conflicts, saying "Today's world is far from peaceful, and peace is all the more precious."

How the Media Covered It: Breitbart (Right) referred to Xi as a "dictator" and noted both Xi and Sanchez were "socialist." Newsmax (Right) highlighted Sanchez's criticism of the US and Israel, and noted while Sanchez was in China, his wife was being accused of misusing public funds back in Spain. Reuters (Center) also mentioned Sanchez's criticism of the war and said Spain has been "one of Europe's loudest proponents of expanding trade and treating China as a strategic ally, rather than the economic and geopolitical rival seen by Trump."

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