China Slams U.S. war in Middle East, Afghanistan; calls for caution in Libya

After a diplomatic meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that Beijing supports a political resolution to the conflict in Libya.

Wen pointed to the United States and other Western powers involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan that have led to protracted military presences, which are slated to surpass the longest of the US' military engagements.

Foreign troops may be able to win war in a place, but they can hardly win peace. Hard lessons have been learned from what has happened in the Middle East and Afghanistan, Wen told the Associated Press at a press conference with the British prime minister.

Although the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution to authorize air strikes against Libya to protect civilians, armed offensives can only be deployed under particular circumstances.

Wen called for the strictest caution to be used in the employment of air strikes to support the Benghazi rebels' fight against the 42-year-long Gaddafi regime.

Uncle Wen, as he is called -- either lovingly or sarcastically -- in Chinese society, called for reduced humanitarian harm in the current conflict.

Beijing has sent representatives to speak with both the Gaddafi and rebel camps.

Chinese companies operating in Libya before armed conflict broke out between Gaddafi and rebel forces in the onset of the Arab Spring this year have reported crippling losses. China has direct investments in Libya totaling over $9-billion, according to AsiaNews. The same article reported that the People's Republic also imported some 150 thousand barrels of crude oil per day from the North African nation -- previously the world's third largest oil producer.