BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes armed attacks against peaceful nuclear facilities under the safeguards and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), advocating the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular news briefing when responding to a query about the recent military operations that the United States and Israel struck Iran's Arak heavy water production plant, Khondab heavy water reactor, Ardakan yellowcake production plant and Bushehr nuclear power plant.
"Armed attacks against peaceful nuclear facilities under the safeguards and monitoring of the IAEA violate the purposes of the UN Charter, international law and the Statute of the IAEA," Mao said, adding that the attacks deal a heavy blow to the authority of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), undermine the international efforts to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and could bring serious consequences to regional peace, security and stability.
Mao noted that the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT is to be held soon. "China is concerned about the negative impact of the military strikes by the United States and Israel. China stands ready to work with all sides to earnestly safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East," she said. ■
