China urges against 'weaponizing' trade after Trump threatens Spain

2026-03-04 - 10:12

During a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning articulated her government's position, stating, "The US-Israeli military actions against Iran violate international laws, and trade should not be instrumentalized or weaponized." Her remarks, carried by state media, directly challenge Washington's approach of leveraging economic partnerships to achieve strategic military compliance from its NATO allies. Beijing's intervention positions it as a defender of global commerce against unilateral coercive measures. Madrid rejects Washington's accusations The Spanish government has firmly pushed back against the criticism emanating from the Trump camp. Officials in Madrid reiterated that Spain remains a committed NATO member, fulfilling all its defensive obligations and playing a vital role in European territorial security. In a clear statement aimed at de-escalating the row, Madrid confirmed on Monday that US military bases on Spanish soil have not been, nor are they scheduled to be, utilized for launching offensive operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Regional fallout intensifies after Iranian strikes The diplomatic dispute unfolds against a backdrop of severe military escalation. The ongoing US and Israeli aerial campaign, which began last Saturday, has reportedly resulted in high-profile casualties, including the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media reports indicate the strikes have killed 787 individuals, with victims including schoolgirls. In retaliation, Tehran has launched barrages of drones and missiles at American-linked targets within Gulf nations. These counter-strikes have inflicted significant losses, including the confirmed deaths of six US military personnel and numerous injuries among coalition forces stationed in the region.