SRINAGAR: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Spain to jointly oppose what he described as the “law of the jungle” in global affairs, during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing, held amid escalating geopolitical tensions, according to international media reports.
As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Xi said the world was “in turmoil, caught in a contest between justice and power,” and called on both countries to oppose a global “retrogression to the law of the jungle” while jointly upholding genuine multilateralism.
Addressing Sánchez at the Great Hall of the People, Xi stated that a country’s approach to international law reflects its values and responsibility. He added that China and Spain are “principled nations” willing to stand “on the right side of history,” the SCMP report noted.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is on a five-day visit to China, emphasized the importance of diplomacy, stating that Beijing could play a constructive role in resolving ongoing global crises. Citing Agence France-Presse via SCMP, Sánchez said China’s role is “important to finding a diplomatic means that will end this war and contribute to stability and peace,” adding that continued dialogue among countries is “absolutely necessary” for peace efforts.
The visit comes amid strained Spain–United States relations over the Middle East conflict. Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal European critics of US and Israeli military actions against Iran, with Madrid reportedly refusing to allow the United States to use jointly operated military bases for related operations and restricting US military flights through its airspace, according to earlier official statements cited in reports.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles described the war as “profoundly illegal and unjust,” while Sánchez has repeatedly cautioned against military escalation, stressing that global crises cannot be resolved through “conflicts and bombs.”
The decisions have drawn strong reactions from Washington, with US President Donald Trump reportedly threatening trade measures against Spain following its stance, further straining transatlantic relations.
Despite external pressure, Sánchez has continued to advocate diplomacy and international law while also seeking to strengthen Spain’s engagement with China. The SCMP report noted that this marks his fourth visit to China in four years, reflecting Madrid’s efforts to deepen bilateral ties amid shifting global alignments.
Xi also called for enhanced communication, mutual trust, and closer cooperation between China and Spain, stressing the need to defend multilateralism in an increasingly unstable international order.
In a separate development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing’s position on territorial claims, stating that “Zangnan is China’s territory” and rejecting the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” as illegally established by India. He said it is China’s sovereign right to standardize place names in the region.
Responding to India’s objections to China’s recent naming exercises in the area, Guo said China–India relations remain generally stable and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to improving ties. He expressed hope that both sides would “meet each other halfway” and take steps conducive to bilateral relations.
