China’s top diplomat Wang Yi expressed support for Lebanon and condemned what he termed “indiscriminate attacks against civilians”, AFP quotes Beijing’s foreign ministry as saying.

Meeting his Lebanese counterpart in New York, Wang said: “We pay close attention to developments in the region, especially the recent explosion of communications equipment in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks against civilians.”

Wang acknowledged the strikes, saying China “strongly condemns any violation of the basic norms governing international relations”.

“No matter how the situation changes, we will always stand on the side of justice, on the side of our Arab brothers, including Lebanon,” Wang told Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

“Countering violence with violence will not solve the problems in the Middle East and will only lead to an even greater humanitarian disaster,” he added. China also urged its citizens to leave Israel on Sunday as tensions with Lebanon grew.