China urges ICC to take ‘objective’ position after Netanyahu arrest warrant

China urged the International Criminal Court on Friday to remain objective and fair after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with the law,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in response to a question about the court’s warrant for Netanyahu.

The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed between 8 October 2023, and 20 May this year.

It said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe the pair bore “criminal responsibility” for using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally attacking civilians.

Netanyahu denounced the move as anti-Semitic and the court’s accusations as “absurd and false”.

China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC, said it “supports any efforts by the international community on the Palestinian issue that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice and upholding the authority of international law”.

Lin also accused the United States of “double standards” in response to a question about the US opposition to the court’s pursuit of Netanyahu, but its support for a warrant against Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“China consistently opposes certain countries only use international law when it suits them... and engaging in double standards,” Lin said.

US President Joe Biden has condemned the warrants against Israeli leaders, calling them “outrageous”.