Jerusalem and Beijing. June 17, 2025.
Today, the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv issued an urgent advisory advising all Chinese nationals living in Israel to leave “as soon as possible,” in light of Israel and Iran’s deepening conflict and its subsequent closure of Israeli airspace.
As security concerns increase, such as damaged civilian infrastructure and rising casualties, the Embassy advised citizens to leave via land border crossings, particularly toward Jordan (reuters.com/news/8052556 and jamaicaobserver.com/8552957 for more details).
Alert was distributed through the Embassy’s WeChat channel for optimal reception.
Worsen Security Conditions in Worsen.
The warning comes following five consecutive days of military actions between Israel and Iran. Israeli airstrikes have targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to respond with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli towns and cities including Tel Aviv. Reuter’s.com.
Civilian buildings on both sides have been hit, heightening fears of an expanding conflict and fuelling fears for violence to escalate further.
According to reports by the Embassy, civilian facilities in Israel have already experienced damage and casualties are increasing, exacerbating urban insecurity. Since Israeli airspace remains closed due to ongoing air defence activity, leaving by air is not feasible and instead citizens were advised to travel overland into Jordan while border crossings remained open (The Guardian, Reuter’s and TimesofIsrael.com have suggested crossing overland).
China Issues Dual Advisories mes This notice follows on an advisory issued on June 13 from its embassy in Israel which advised Chinese nationals living there to remain alert and avoid sensitive areas due to missile or drone threats, according to JamaicaObserver, Reuter and USNews reports.
Chinese authorities issued similar warnings to its citizens living in Iran, describing conditions there as ‘complex and severe.’ [Reuters, The Guardian – 6/8/18 ].
China and UN envoy have both publicly denounced military escalation, calling for restraint while expressing “deep concern” over civilian deaths and its impact on nuclear negotiations (reuters.com). Also discussed was how mobility assistance is affected in various situations (impact analysis).
Israeli’s restricted airspace has resulted in commercial flights being grounded, disrupting travel for residents and foreigners alike. China Embassy officials emphasize land evacuation measures as a peril both to Chinese nationals as well as wider disruptions of regional mobility and tourism, according to Reuter’s.com
Local Chinese community groups in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have been reported as working closely with embassy officials to coordinate transport and guidance for departures, yet logistical difficulties persist as land crossings must be navigated under strict security protocols with heavy military presence.
Regional and Global Consequences
Analysts note that China’s warning demonstrates its cautious stance; striking a balance between diplomatic neutrality and citizen protection. China remains one of the few global powers with strong relations to both Israel and Iran; therefore it views itself as acting as an agent for dialogue and de-escalation.
The Chinese advisory may also serve as a signal to other governments with citizens living in Israel. While major Western nations have cautioned their nationals living there against leaving, this Chinese notice stands out as one of the more forceful statements made from non-Western states.
What to Expect
The US Embassy has pledged to continue updating their advisory based on developments. Chinese nationals considering departure are being guided by both embassy updates and community notices from local communities. As tensions escalate, observers anticipate more governments may offer land-based evacuation corridors or travel restrictions as an effective strategy for evacuation.
Foreign governments–including China–are bracing themselves for further disruption from Israel-Iran tensions as the conflict subsides or diplomacy prevails, seeking to protect their citizens from unpredictable and expanding fallout of this escalation.