Aramco Attack: China Calls on All Parties to Exercise Restraint

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that blaming anyone for the attack on Saudi’s Aramco oil facilities without irrefutable facts is “irresponsible”.

Speaking in a press conference, Chinese spokesman called on all parties to exercise restraint.

Two oil facilities belonging to "Aramco"- the world most profitable company- were attacked by drones in the provinces of Abqaiq and Hijra Khurais, east of the Kingdom on Saturday, causing about 50% reduction of Saudi oil production, and about 50% of global supply.

The armed Houthi political opposition faction in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks. Meanwhile, a senior US administration official said Iran was to blame, yet, Iran has denied it carried out the attack.

Noteworthy, China enjoys close diplomatic and economic ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. Riyadh is considered China’s top oil supplier. Moreover, Saudi King Salman visited Beijing in 2017, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid an official visit to China earlier this year.

Meanwhile, last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met the Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, in Beijing.

Noteworthy, Saudi Aramco is a Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company based in Dhahran.

It is considered one of the major companies in the world, in terms of revenue, and according to accounts seen by Bloomberg News.