China’s vice president urges development and multilateralism at UN amid trade and Middle East tensions

• Left-leaning outlets covered this 10h later

All camps note China’s pushback against US policies on Iran and Cuba, but left-leaning coverage stresses the criticism of US protectionism and the omission of Taiwan, centrist coverage adds China’s role in seeking a Ukraine settlement, and right-leaning coverage frames the speech as part of a Russia-China alliance denouncing US aggression.

1. Sep 11 Smoke spotted near Saudi East-West oil pipeline as Houthi advances intensify
2. Sep 11 New satellite data now show a smoke plume along the pipeline route.
3. Sep 12 Satellite imagery shows a massive smoke plume about 100 km long and sustained thermal hotspots along the East-West Pipeline corridor southeast of Medina.
4. Sep 13 Iraq seized a drone‑launching platform suspected of being used in the strike and dismissed the Maysan provincial commander.
5. Sep 14 Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, the Qatari emir warned that the Gulf is in one of its most perilous periods due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. He urged diplomatic action, including restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, to prevent war. Tamim also condemned Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza, called the Gaza events genocide, and stressed the need for a regional collective-security framework. He reaffirmed Qatar’s role as a trusted mediator and expressed support for Lebanon, Sudan, Libya and a united Yemen.
6. Sep 14 U.S. officials report that roughly two-thirds of pre-conflict oil volumes are now moving through Hormuz, while Iran disputes control of the waterway. Tanker-tracker data, however, shows daily transits remain far below historic levels. At the same time, attacks on a Saudi pipeline and a vessel in the strait have lifted global oil prices.
7. Sep 16 Saudi Arabia announced the cancellation of September crude cargoes to Europe.
8. Sep 21 Fire on the tanker was extinguished after the projectile strike.
9. Sep 23 A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile, igniting a fire and forcing crew evacuation.
10. Sep 24 Speaking at the United Nations, Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will never bow to American pressure, even after Donald Trump warned of annihilating the Islamic Republic. He warned that sanctions and bullying would only strengthen Iranian resistance. Pezeshkian also criticized the United States and Israel for demanding limits on Iran’s nuclear program while Israel is believed to possess nuclear weapons.
11. Sep 25 President Pezeshkian linked the Strait of Hormuz dispute to U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade in his UN address.
12. Sep 26 In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Han Zheng highlighted China's view that global progress should be built on development and open cooperation. He warned that protectionist policies benefit no one and reiterated support for multilateral dialogue. The address also touched on the Middle East conflict, AI and the Belt and Road initiative, but did not mention Taiwan despite heightened US-China tensions. Analysts noted the speech was routine, with President Xi absent and senior officials rotating representation at the UN.
13. Sep 26 Gulf leaders scheduled a meeting with Donald Trump to seek a diplomatic path with Iran.
14. Sep 28 Han Zheng’s address emphasized Belt and Road cooperation with three‑quarters of participating nations.