President,

On April 7, China, along with Russia, voted against a draft resolution on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz at the Security Council. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China approaches every vote in the Council with a serious, conscientious, and responsible attitude, and always determines its voting position based on the merits of the issue itself and on whether the adoption of the resolution would genuinely contribute to resolving the issue and achieving peace. 

China attaches great importance to this draft resolution submitted by Bahrain on behalf of Gulf States. We fully understand their major concerns. At the same time, the Security Council’s actions should be aimed at deescalation. They must not provide a veneer of legitimacy for unauthorized military operations or grant a license to the use of force, let alone further exacerbate tensions and add fuel to the fire, thereby leading to an escalation of the conflict. In exercising its veto on this draft resolution, China has upheld international fairness and justice, defended the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, prevented the conflict from expanding further and the situation from escalating further, and created favorable conditions for achieving a temporary ceasefire and launching dialogue and negotiation. China’s vote represents a choice responsible for peace and for the people of the region. It stands on the right side of history and will stand the test of history. 

President, 

China does not go along with Iran’s attacks on Gulf States. China believes that the passage and safety of a strait used for international navigation should be safeguarded. We call on Iran to take proactive measures to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at an early date. Meanwhile, the US ramped-up military deployment and resorted to a targeted blockade constitute a dangerous and irresponsible move. The issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a spillover effect of the conflict in Iran. Only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation. 

China welcomes the announcement by the relevant parties that a ceasefire agreement has been reached. We support all efforts conducive to ending the conflict. The US-Iran negotiation in Pakistan marks a step in the right direction toward deescalation. The current situation has reached a critical juncture between war and peace, and a window of opportunity for peace is opening. The pressing priority is to prevent, by all means, a relapse in fighting and to maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiation that did not come easily. This serves the fundamental interests of the people in the region and meets the shared aspirations of the international community. The relevant parties should adhere to the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of dialogue and peace talks, stay committed to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and take concrete actions to deescalate regional tensions. The international community should continue to intensify efforts to promote talks for peace and unequivocally oppose any actions that undermine the ceasefire or escalate confrontations. All parties should also earnestly respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and prevent the escalation of the situation in Lebanon from affecting the ceasefire arrangement. 

President, 

As a sincere friend and strategic partner of countries in the Middle East, China is following closely the regional situation, upholding an objective and impartial position, and has been engaged in intensive mediation with all parties to actively promote talks for peace. Recently, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, namely, stay committed to the principle of peaceful coexistence, stay committed to the principle of national sovereignty, stay committed to the principle of international rule of law, and stay committed to a balanced approach to development and security. This demonstrates China’s consistent position and active efforts to promote peace, stop the fighting, and advocate for dialogue to resolve differences. It offers a Chinese approach to resolving the crisis and ending the conflict. Guided by the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s four propositions, China stands ready to continue to facilitate deescalation, promote the improvement of relations among regional countries, and play a constructive role in ultimately achieving enduring peace and stability in the Middle East. 

Thank you, President.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics announced on Wednesday that it will cease sales of all home appliance products in the Chinese mainland, including televisions and monitors, while mobile phone is still on sale, according to a statement published on its official website on Wednesday.

A Chinese analyst said the move reflects normal market dynamics and underscores the growing competitiveness of domestic brands, whose product strength now rivals that of international peers.

Samsung said the decision was made after careful consideration in response to rapidly changing market conditions. According to its statement, the affected product lines include televisions, monitors, commercial display systems, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, washer-dryer combos, garment care systems, audio equipment, projectors, vacuum cleaners, and air purifiers.

The company added that after-sales services, including installation, return and maintenance, will continue to be provided to existing customers in accordance with China's relevant laws on protection of consumer rights and interests. 

Industry data cited by Chinese media outlet DoNews showed that as of April 5, 2026, Samsung's offline market share in China stood at 3.62 percent for televisions, 0.41 percent for refrigerators, and 0.38 percent for washing machines. Television sales revenue has dropped to about 5 percent of its peak level, while overall home appliance revenue has fallen to less than 1 percent of its historical high.

Samsung's challenges are not limited to China. According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, rising global uncertainties and increasing raw material and component costs have continued to erode profitability in its home appliance business.

In 2025, Samsung's Visual Display and Digital Appliances divisions — responsible for televisions and home appliances — reported combined losses of 200 billion Korean won ($138.06 million). Over the same period, the net profit of Samsung's China sales subsidiary fell 44 percent year-on-year to 168.1 billion won.

The shift comes as Chinese brands have steadily expanded their domestic market share, supported in part by China's policy-backed trade-in program. In 2025, total TV shipments in China reached 32.895 million units, with the top eight domestic brands —Hisense, TCL, Xiaomi, Skyworth, Changhong, Haier, Konka and Huawei — accounting 94.1 percent of the market, according to Chinese industry data provider Runto Technology.

By contrast, the combined annual shipments of major foreign brands — including Samsung, Sony, Philips and Sharp — have fallen below 1 million units, remaining at the bottom of the market, said the survey.

Liu Dingding, a veteran industry observer, told the Global Times on Tuesday that with foreign brands' market shares dropping into a relatively low level, the cost of maintaining operations in China — including staffing and marketing — has become increasingly unjustifiable, making exit a rational business decision.

Despite intensifying competition, China remains a highly attractive market for global companies. In 2025, total retail sales of consumer goods surpassed 50 trillion yuan ($7.32 trillion) for the first time, reaching 50.1 trillion yuan, up 3.7 percent year-on-year. Consumption contributed 52 percent to economic growth, an increase of 5 percentage points, official data showed. 

Meanwhile, Samsung is not fully withdrawing from China. According to Yonhap, the company will continue to operate in mobile devices, semiconductors and medical equipment sectors. It plans to expand customized mobile products and services while strengthening cooperation with local AI firms to develop features tailored to Chinese users.

The company is also expected to shift its focus in China toward advanced industrial sectors, including R&D, manufacturing cooperation and investment, while maintaining operations at its Suzhou home appliance plant and semiconductor facilities in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province, according to Yonhap.

Da Zhigang, a researcher at the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said that China's home appliance industry has become increasingly mature and highly competitive. Samsung's shift in investment focus in China toward AI, green development, and other high value-added, high-tech sectors is also aligned with the country's manufacturing development priorities.

Liu said the contraction of South Korean consumer electronics and automotive brands in China fundamentally reflects the rise of Chinese manufacturing and innovation, as consumers gain access to higher-quality alternatives. 

"Brands that fail to adapt to market changes or upgrade products in a timely manner are likely to be naturally phased out by market forces," he said.