As an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran last week sparks a spiraling conflict between the two enemy states, China has seen an opportunity to cast itself as potential peace broker – and an alternative voice to the United States.

China warned the Iran-Israel conflict may spread wider instability in the Middle East, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaching out to both countries as their days-old conflict shows no end in sight.

BEIJING: China's embassy in Israel on Tuesday (Jun 17) urged its citizens to leave the country "as soon as possible", after Israel and Iran traded heavy strikes. "The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings,

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to several questions related to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran on Monday press conference, emphasizing that Chinese side will continue to communicate with relevant parties,

The USS Nimitz and its carrier strike group are steaming west from the Pacific as part of an overall buildup of US military firepower

China has issued advisories to its citizens in Israel and Iran of the "complex and severe" security situation in those countries on Friday, adding a warning to those in Israel to prepare for possible missile and drone attacks.

As the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies, the U.S. deploys the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier along with support tankers to bolster military readiness.

China is suffering a "terrible loss" in the Middle East and could convince some other party to "strike us," according to Gatestone Institute's Gordon Chang.

The planes were reportedly carrying military supplies or restricted goods, potentially reinforcing Iran’s defence capabilities amid its standoff with Israel. The secrecy surrounding the landings, including the transponder shutdowns and unannounced arrivals in Tehran,