Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Gordan Grlić Radman will visit China from July 20 to 22.

China on Thursday called for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected, as Israel's heavy airstrikes on Syrian capital Damascus have drawn widespread attention.   

Some experts noted that Israel's recent military actions in the Middle East - enabled in part by US leniency - have intensified regional instability as it seeks to expand its strategic reach, potentially deepening humanitarian crises and accelerating already unfolding risks.

"Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected. In particular, given the continuous ongoing turbulence in the Middle East, there shouldn't be any action that may lead to escalation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Thursday that protecting Druze citizens and their rights is "our priority," as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria. In his first televised statement, al-Sharaa addressed Druze citizens, saying "we reject any attempt to drag you into hands of an external party," according to Reuters. 

Turning to Israel, al-Sharaa accused the "Israeli entity" of consistently targeting Syrian stability and seeking to incite internal conflict since the fall of the former Syrian government. He accused Israel of aiming to "turn Syria into a permanent battlefield, weaken its national cohesion, and obstruct its reconstruction process," according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Syrian government officials and leaders in the Druze religious minority announced a renewed ceasefire Wednesday. The announcement came after Israel launched airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, an escalation in a campaign that it said was intended to defend the Druze, according to the Associated Press.

According to the Al Jazeera's report on Thursday, Syrian government forces have withdrawn from areas they entered in recent days in Sweida, the heartland of the Druze minority in southern Syria. 

Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that "responsibility" for security in Sweida would be handed to religious elders and some local factions "based on the supreme national interest," said the report. 

The Druze form a substantial community in Israel as well as in Syria and are seen in Israel as a loyal minority, often serving in the military. The escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province of Sweida. Government forces that intervened to restore order clashed with the Druze militias, AP reported. 

A BBC report on Thursday noted that Israel's strikes "represented the most serious Israeli escalation in Syria since December 2024, when it obliterated hundreds of military sites across the country and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights." 

Israel has sought to expand its influence in southern Syria, viewing the Druze as a potential local ally. The Syrian army's advance undermines this foothold and risks bringing armed forces closer to Israel's southern border - both developments that Israel finds unacceptable, Tian Wenlin, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of International Studies, told the Global Times.

Zhu Yongbiao, a professor from the School of Politics and International Relations in Lanzhou University, said that Israel's airstrikes are a continuation of its "maximum operations" strategy. Following the October 7 attacks, Israel has sought to restore deterrence through sustained airstrikes, signaling that any attack will trigger retaliation.

The Wednesday strikes likely mark the start of a broader campaign. Israel may politically court and militarily support minority or sectarian groups in Syria, providing training and arms to build a controllable force. Unlike the singular goal of eliminating Hamas in Gaza, this strategy aims to expand strategic depth and reshape the regional order in Israel's favor, Zhu told the Global Times. 

A report from AP on Thursday described the "violence" in Syria as the "most serious threat yet to efforts by Syria's new rulers to consolidate control of the country." 

Zhu also said that the current situation may raise security risks in Syria, with renewed civil war, the resurgence of armed groups, and deeper national fragmentation all becoming more likely. 

"These developments pose new challenges for both Syria and the broader region," said Zhu. 

Global reaction

On Wednesday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, "The Secretary-General [António Guterres] is alarmed by the continued escalation of violence in Sweida" and "unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians," according to a release from the UN website.  

Guterres further condemned Israel's "escalatory airstrikes" on Sweida, Daraa and central Damascus, together with "reports of the IDF's redeployment of forces in the Golan," the highly-contested mountainous region along the border of the two countries.

Several Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, have condemned the Israeli strikes targeting Syrian government and security forces. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry denounced what it described as "Israel's blatant attacks" on Syria, while Iran described the attacks as "all too predictable," according to BBC. 

Turkey, a key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, described the strikes as "an act of sabotage against Syria's efforts to secure peace, stability and security."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US was "very concerned" about the violence and announced on July 16: "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight."

The US aims to avoid deeper entanglement in regional conflicts, yet repeatedly ends up passively endorsing Israel's aggressive actions. This effectively gives Israel a "blank security check," with Washington left to manage the fallout. As Israel launches more strikes, the US faces mounting reputational costs and is increasingly viewed as complicit by Middle Eastern nations, said Tian. 

Fresh off its clash with Iran, Israel has turned to Syria, further fueling Middle East instability, said Tian, noting that Israel's strikes span nearly the entire "Axis of Resistance" - from the Houthis and Iran to Syria. 

Israel's reliance on force to address security concerns is instead a key source of regional unrest, said the expert. 

With the regional order already shattered by recent conflicts, Israel may become bolder, while the US and other countries remain largely indifferent, creating a "broken windows" effect, Zhu said. 

In the long run, this will worsen humanitarian crises and further erode the UN Charter's principle of sovereignty - trends that are already unfolding and accelerating in the region, said Zhu. 

Several districts in Foshan, South China’s Guangdong Province, updated chikungunya fever case numbers on Saturday. Shunde district alone had reported 1,161 confirmed mild cases as of Friday. Local authorities of affected districts initiated a district-wide mobilization of residents for intensive eradication of mosquito breeding habitats and adult specimens this weekend.

The health bureau of Shunde district, Foshan, announced on its official WeChat account on Saturday that the district had reported a cumulative total of 1,161 confirmed cases of Chikungunya fever as of Friday, all of which were mild.

On the same day, the health bureau of Nanhai district in Foshan also released updated figures, confirming 16 mild chikungunya cases as of Friday.

Additionally, Chancheng district reported 22 confirmed mild cases as of the same date, according to the official WeChat account of the district’s health bureau. 

To contain the outbreak, Shunde and Nanhai districts initiated public campaign on Saturday, reminding local residents of the emergence of an epidemic, with the primary transmission vector being Aedes albopictus, a type of mosquito, and warning of a continued rise in individual infection risk.

To prevent further spread of the epidemic, both districts called on all residents to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and exterminate adult mosquitoes this weekend, the announcements stated.

Shunde district detected a local Chikungunya fever outbreak, traced to an imported case, during monitoring on July 8, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, with large outbreaks and sporadic cases reported mostly in the Americas, Asia and Africa, and occasional smaller outbreaks in Europe, according to the official website of the World Health Organization in April, 2025.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Tuesday responded to questions concerning sanctions China imposed on former Philippine senator Francis Tolentino, stressing that the measures fall entirely within China's legal jurisdiction and that actions harming China's interests will certainly have consequences.

According to a statement published on the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, Ambassador Huang Xilian notified the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs about China's decision. A spokesperson for the Embassy noted that "For some time, a handful anti-China politicians in the Philippines, driven by personal interests, have made a series of malicious remarks and actions on China-related issues that undermine China's interests and damage China-Philippines relations."

The Chinese government remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the spokesperson said, adding that the decision to sanction Tolentino was based on his egregious behavior concerning China-related matters.

Individuals like Tolentino who maliciously smear China and stir up confrontation over disputes will only reap what they sow. Ultimately, these actions will harm the interests of the Philippine nation and its people, according to the Embassy's statement.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 1 announced that China had decided to impose sanctions on former Philippines' senator Francis Tolentino for his egregious conduct on China-related issues and prohibit him from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

For quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China's interests and China-Philippines relations. The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, according to the Ministry.

Recently, a cotton laser topping robot jointly developed by Xinjiang University and Xinjiang Eavision Robotic Technologies Co., Ltd., was officially declared a success. Verified by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Agricultural and Rural Mechanization Development Center, this groundbreaking robot represents the world's first application of laser technology in cotton topping—a crucial farming task now entering the high-tech era, Xinjiang Daily reported Wednesday.

As the industry's first robot equipped with solid-state LiDAR for cotton topping, it integrates cutting-edge LiDAR and vision fusion technologies, achieving major breakthroughs in navigation accuracy and environmental adaptability. This innovation pushes cotton topping robotics to new heights.

The robot was developed over three years of intensive research. Through countless experiments, the team combined advanced technologies such as sensors, machine vision, and laser control with Xinjiang's unique planting model.

After multiple field tests, the robot demonstrated a 98.9 percent accuracy rate in identifying cotton apical buds, a plant damage rate of less than 3 percent, and a topping success rate exceeding 82 percent, with further improvements still possible. Once fully optimized, its operational efficiency is expected to reach 6 to 8 acres per hour—over 10 times faster than manual labor.

"The core challenge was enabling the robot to track moving targets and strike precisely, eliminating missed or incorrect cuts common in traditional topping methods," explained Professor Zhou Jianping from Xinjiang University. "It's like hitting a moving target with a moving gun." Cotton plants vary in height, and airflow from the robot can cause them to sway. However, the robot's "smart eye" rapidly and accurately locates each plant's apical bud. A high-powered blue laser then instantly burns and deactivates the bud, effectively breaking the plant's apical dominance and redirecting nutrients to boost cotton yield.

Compared to traditional mechanical cutting or chemical topping, laser topping is non-contact and non-damaging, significantly reducing harm to cotton plants and environmental impact. It also operates efficiently day or night, according to the Xinjiang Daily.

"Cotton topping has long been the final hurdle in achieving full mechanization of cotton production," said Pei Xinmin, a researcher at the Agricultural and Rural Mechanization Development Center. "This world-first laser topping robot's emergence means China is on the verge of realizing fully mechanized cotton farming."

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Friday attended China's National Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka and delivered a speech, expressing China's willingness to work with Japan to promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted that the Expo serves as an important platform for promoting mutual learning among civilizations, fostering social progress, and strengthening friendship among peoples.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the country's participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, he said, noting that the China Pavilion showcased China's practices in ecological civilization and promoted the country's development philosophy of respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature.

Through immersive exhibitions, interactive experiences, and diverse cultural activities, global visitors will gain a genuine, lovable, and respectable image of China, he said.

"China is willing to work with Japan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and jointly promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, so as to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the needs of the new era," he said.

The Chinese vice premier visited the China and Japan pavilions at the Expo, and held friendly exchanges with Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama and representatives from Kansai-based economic organizations. 

Expo 2025 Osaka, themed "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," opened on April 13 and runs until October 13, 2025. China's National Pavilion Day was held on Friday, with more than 400 attendees from both countries' political, business, media and cultural circles as well as international pavilion representatives, according to Xinhua.

Covering approximately 3,500 square meters, the China National Pavilion is one of the largest foreign-built pavilions at this year's Expo, according to data from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

On the China Pavilion Day, a grand cultural performance titled "Splendid China, Co-Creating the Future" took place within the Expo grounds. Rooted in Chinese cultural aesthetics within a global context, the show featured a mix of music, dance, opera, calligraphy, martial arts, acrobatics, and intangible cultural heritage displays, China Media Group reported on Friday.

Since the Expo opened on April 13, the China National Pavilion has welcomed over 760,000 visitors, averaging nearly 10,000 daily, according to CCPIT data.

"We attach importance to the Osaka Expo," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, responding to inquiries about China's expectations for the National Pavilion Day. "We hope that through the wonderful exhibition and diverse activities of the China National Pavilion, people from all countries will gain a better understanding of China," Mao noted.

Analysts said that recent high-level and grassroots exchanges between China and Japan have created a positive atmosphere for improving bilateral relations.

The Osaka Expo is a key opportunity to demonstrate both countries' willingness to deepen ties and cooperation across various sectors, said Wu Yingjie, research fellow with the Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of International Business and Economics. "As a highly watched global event, the Expo provides a platform for economic and cultural engagements," Wu added.

China-Japan economic ties are recovering, but they still face a transitional phase requiring innovative cooperation, policy coordination, and people-to-people engagement, Wu noted, and caution about political disruptions is still needed.

A day earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "China and Japan are important neighbors, and the relationship between the two countries is of far-reaching significance beyond the bilateral scope," Wang said.

Japan looks forward to working with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels and promote cooperation in various fields, Iwaya noted.

Progress in China-Japan relations has been seen in the area of trade. Earlier in June, China conditionally approved the resumption of Japanese seafood imports from select regions, effective from June 29, following verification of safe discharge monitoring data and Tokyo's quality guarantees. Japanese media reports said the move was aimed at easing trade tensions while bolstering bilateral relations.

However, Wu cautioned that China-Japan economic relations still face challenges, with external political uncertainties remaining a destabilizing factor.

To foster positive momentum, Wu suggested expanding cooperation in AI, the digital economy, elderly care, energy conservation, new energy and other emerging fields. 

"Leveraging platforms like the Osaka Expo can unlock collaborative opportunities, while improved policy coordination and enhanced people-to-people trust will help to create favorable conditions for bilateral economic ties - these efforts require commitment from both nations," he added.

More than 5,400 Chinese suspects involved in telecom fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have been repatriated in a joint crackdown on cross-border telecom fraud launched by China, Myanmar, and Thailand since the beginning of 2025, China's Ministry of Public Security announced on Sunday.

During the second ministerial-level meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday to coordinate efforts against telecom and online fraud, the three countries reached a series of agreements on deepening law enforcement cooperation.

They agreed to continue working together to intensify the crackdown on telecom and online fraud in areas such as Myawaddy, to carry out comprehensive dismantling all telecom scam compounds, to arrest all suspects involved in fraud, and to eradicate the breeding grounds of fraud-related crimes, thereby effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people of all three countries.

The regular ministerial-level meeting held for the joint law enforcement cooperation against telecom and online frauds demonstrate the three countries' commitment to establishing a long-term mechanism to effectively combat cross-border telecom fraud, Peng Nian, director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

According to Peng, the ministerial-level meeting was held to send a strong signal that the fight against cross-border telecom fraud will not derail due to domestic political changes. The three countries will continue their sustained efforts through this regular mechanism to combat telecom fraud and minimize the threat it poses to their societies.

Since the beginning of this year, the relevant authorities of China, Myanmar and Thailand have worked closely together and launched a fierce crackdown on telecom and online fraud in the Myawaddy region. More than 5,400 Chinese suspects involved in fraud have been apprehended and repatriated, the ministry said.

Last Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand announced that a Chinese national surnamed Zhong had been rescued after being lured to Myanmar and illegally detained.

Zhong, a male model from South China's Guangdong Province, received an offer on June 8 to appear on a magazine cover. He flew from Guangzhou to Thailand but went missing near the Thailand-Myanmar border on June 13, China National Radio (CNR) reported on Friday.

According to Peng, it is difficult to completely eradicate telecom fraud in these regions overnight. After the initial large-scale actions that have had a deterrent effect, a long-term approach is needed through a regular mechanism to gradually combat telecom fraud. Given the relatively weak administrative capacity in these areas, it is essential to engage with local governments to gradually eliminate the breeding grounds for cross-border fraud.

Chinese military experts rejected on Monday the latest claims by French intelligence that "China used embassies to undermine sales of French-made Rafale jets" following the India-Pakistan conflict in May this year. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that she is not aware of the situation, when asked about the matter. 

The Associated Press (AP) reported on Sunday that "findings from a French intelligence service say defense attachés in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes."

The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named, according to the US media report. 

Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent the Rafale's appeal, the Ministry of National Defense said: "The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability," according to the AP report. 

In response to a reporter's question about the AP's report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that she is not aware of the situation.

Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday that this appears to be yet another organized smear campaign against China's diplomacy. 

"This wave of disinformation deliberately links social media activity to Chinese state behavior and forcibly associates China's normal defense exchanges with other countries to the difficulties facing sales of the Rafale fighter jet," Zhuo said. 

Such claims ignore China's long-standing self-discipline in arms exports, and China's consistent and firm support for Europe's strategic autonomy. The real goal is to interfere with or even sabotage the stable development of China-Europe relations, Zhuo said. 

During the India-Pakistan clashes in May, Reuters, citing one US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported on May 8 there was high confidence that Pakistan had used the Chinese-made J-10 aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles against Indian fighter jets —bringing down at least two.

Another official said at least one Indian jet that was shot down was a French-made Rafale fighter aircraft, according to Reuters. 

At the recent 55th Paris Air Show, the Chinese J-10CE fighter jet, which has recently achieved remarkable success in foreign military air combat operations, has become a top focus of international media attention. 

Its appearance alongside France's Rafale fighter jet has sparked lively discussions, with media zeroing in on the question: "Which is superior, the J-10CE or the Rafale?" Commenting on this question, Wu Jiwei, a spokesperson at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), told the Global Times that both aircraft are advanced fighters on the world stage, and he expressed hope that all cutting-edge fighter jets from different countries could contribute to safeguarding global peace.
China's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of National Defense have never made any official comments on the performance of fighter jets during the India-Pakistan conflict, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday. 

"For the French to accuse our diplomatic institutions of smearing the Rafale is simply not in line with the facts," Fu said. "The global media is well aware of the situation and can judge for themselves whether it's a smear campaign or a reflection of reality."

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on youth and students' federations to adhere to the right political orientation, deepen reform and innovation, and under the Party's leadership, score new achievements on the new journey.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation, which opened in Beijing Wednesday morning.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended congratulations and greetings to young people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life, to young students, and to young Chinese overseas.

Over the past five years, youth and students' federations at all levels have acted proactively and worked diligently, showcasing the vigorous and upward spirit of the new generation of Chinese youth, Xi said in the letter.

He pointed out that young people have a great role to play as China strives to build a strong country and realize national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, urging them to maintain firm ideals and convictions, foster a sense of responsibility to the country, and shoulder their historic mission.

Xi called on Party organizations at all levels to strengthen their leadership of the youth work, support the work of youth and students' federations, and create favorable conditions for the healthy growth and success of young people and students so that they can make contributions to the country.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening meeting, which gathered about 3,000 participants.
Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, read out Xi's letter at the meeting.
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the meeting on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.
Noting that Xi's congratulatory letter has provided an important guideline for further advancing the development of China's youth movement, Li emphasized the importance of thoroughly understanding and fully implementing the instructions made by Xi so that greater accomplishments will be made in the Party's work related to youths.

The gatherings will summarize the work of the All-China Youth Federation and All-China Students' Federation in the past five years, and outline work plans for the next five years.

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran was still holding on Wednesday, more than 24 hours after US President Donald Trump declared that it was in effect, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. Israel and Iran have both declared victory in the war, and both countries have taken steps signaling that they expect the truce to hold, the NYT said.

"Is the 12-day Israel-Iran war really over - and who gained what?" Middle East news outlet Al Jazeera asked on Tuesday. Some Chinese experts told the Global Times that there are still numerous potential flashpoints between Iran and Israel, and the possibility of renewed conflict cannot be ruled out.

Al Jazeera said that since Sunday, Israel and Iran have lurched from escalating war to fragile ceasefire. A truce seems to be holding, and what Trump called "The 12 Day War" between Israel and Iran seems to be over - for now.

Why did both Israel and Iran agree to a ceasefire at this particular moment? "For all three parties, now is an 'excellent opportunity' to end the conflict," Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

From Israel's perspective, its strategic objectives have largely been achieved: eliminating Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders and targeting Iran's nuclear facilities with US support, Sun said.

For Iran, the conflict resulted in strategic victories, including breaching Israel's three-layer missile defense system, launching strategic strikes against Israel, and targeting US military bases in the Gulf region as well as in Syria and Iraq, he continued.

From the US standpoint, its goals were also met: it destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities without directly engaging in war with Iran, and it can claim credit for facilitating the Israel-Iran ceasefire, Sun said.

The expert noted that after 12 days of mutual strikes, both Israel and Iran had exhausted themselves and were looking to cut their losses and consolidate their defense systems. Therefore, this moment represents the best "half-time break."

While Sun pointed out that the likelihood of resuming the conflict in the short term is small, he emphasized that since the fundamental contradictions between Israel and Iran have not been resolved, the possibility of renewed fighting always exists.

When asked about China's position on the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and how China plans to work with Iran to prevent the region from sliding back into war, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that China is following closely the developments in the Middle East. We hope to see a lasting and effective ceasefire and will work to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. 

Guo added that China and Iran enjoy traditional friendship between our peoples. China stands ready to maintain the friendly cooperation with Iran for the benefit of the two peoples and provide positive factors for peace and stability in the Middle East.

The Washington Post reported on June 17 that without resupplies from the US or greater involvement by US forces, some assessments project Israel can maintain its missile defense for 10 or 12 more days if Iran maintains a steady tempo of attacks.

Trump on Tuesday backed away from talk of a regime change in Iran, US media The Hill said. "Regime change takes chaos, and ideally, we don't want to see so much chaos. So we'll see how it goes," the US president was quoted as saying in the media report.

Wang Jin, director of the Israeli Studies Program and Center at Northwestern University in Xi'an, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the ceasefire is a natural outcome.

After 12 consecutive days of strikes, both sides believe they have achieved part or most of their strategic objectives. Israel sees the conflict as having significantly weakened Iran's nuclear capabilities, while Iran views it as a demonstration of its strong national deterrence, Wang noted.

At the same time, both parties have concluded that continuing the conflict may no longer be beneficial or may prove futile. In other words, the situation has reached the point of diminishing returns in terms of strategic value, Wang said.

The current ceasefire has an internal logic. It is a decision made by all parties based on their own strategic needs. Without US involvement, Israel might have faced an extremely brutal and uncontrollable situation, Li Shaoxian, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, added that as the conflict escalated, concerns within the US about the legitimacy of military action and fears of being drawn into another regional war have been rising.

Iran, having suffered losses, urgently needs a chance to recover and is also worried about the situation spiraling out of control. Meanwhile, Israel has been in a prolonged state of emergency, with its normal economic and social order severely disrupted, Li said, noting that these domestic concerns made all parties eager to disengage.

Ding Long, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, pointed out that it remains uncertain whether Israel is simply buying time.

"Given its small size and population compared to Iran, Israel is at a disadvantage in a prolonged war of attrition, especially considering the high cost of missile intercepts." Ding told the Global Times on Wednesday. It is unclear whether Israel intends to pause and then strike Iran again once it regains strength, he said.

"Israel has not fully achieved its strategic objectives, as some of Iran's nuclear facilities remain intact, and the broader goal of regime change in Iran has not been realized," Ding said. "Whether Israel is satisfied with these outcomes and whether it will seek to complete its objectives in the next phase remains to be seen."

Historically, Israel has at times agreed to ceasefires under pressure, only to resume military action after regrouping. "This means the current situation is still marked by uncertainty and fragility," Ding said.

Several US media outlets reported on Wednesday that initial American intelligence assessments indicate the US strikes on Iran did not destroy Iran's nuclear facilities and likely only set back its nuclear program by a few months. However, the White House and US defense chief have been pushing back on such claims, media reports said.

Some experts believe that the Iranian nuclear issue remains unresolved after the 12-day conflict, and this will be a key factor influencing the future trajectory of the Israel-Iran situation.

What Israel and Iran have agreed to is a ceasefire. They have not made peace, Al Jazeera reported. The media outlet pointed out that so far, Iran sounds unyielding in the pursuit of its nuclear program.

Iran's parliament approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

There are many unresolved issues between Israel and Iran, and the conflict has not resolved any of the underlying contradictions, Li Shaoxian said.

Regarding Iran's nuclear issue, its nuclear energy development has been ongoing for years, with domestic talent and technology already in place, making it unlikely to be interrupted by external interference, Li said.

The expert believes that while Iran's nuclear program has been under strict monitoring by the IAEA, recent conflicts and tensions may force Iran to reconsider the transparency and openness of its nuclear policies.

Experts believe that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran is fraught with "instability." As the ceasefire lacks binding provisions and does not address potential emergencies, it means that while a ceasefire may be achieved and maintained in the short term, the possibility of the conflict reigniting in the medium to long term cannot be ruled out, they noted.

The outbreak of this conflict has further deepened the hatred and mistrust between Iran and Israel and the US, Ding said, noting that although tensions have long existed, the parties had previously avoided direct confrontation.

However, this conflict crossed two red lines: direct clashes between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and the US. This suggests that future conflicts among Iran, Israel, and the US could become the new normal, posing even more severe challenges to the security landscape in the Middle East, the expert said.