China’s Stance on Libya’s Factions: Cautious and Calculated NeutralityAlthough China abstained from Resolution 1973, it was quick to criticize NATO airstrikes. At first, the NTC viewed Beijing warily amid accusations that China had sought to skirt the arms embargo to supply Gaddafi. However, through sustained diplomatic outreach after the war, China managed to repair relations with Libya’s post-Gaddafi leadership. Jalel Harchaoui argued that this preference is also motivated by economic concerns, (this reflects a broader tendency to view China’s Libya policy as “economy first” by default). His research interests include China-EU relations, the history of Sino-European relations, and Chinese foreign policy in the wider Mediterranean region.

Source: Libya Today February 02, 2026 05:29 UTC