Title: China’s Middle East Policy Faces Test Amidst Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Subtitle: China’s neutrality on the conflict upsets Israel, but may offer opportunities for forging closer ties with Arab countries
Date: [Insert Date]
Byline: [Insert Journalist Name]
WASHINGTON (AP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent invitation to both the Palestinian president and the Israeli prime minister for state visits marked a significant step towards China’s increased involvement in the Middle East. However, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has put China’s Middle East approach to the test, jeopardizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Beijing later this year. Despite China’s stated neutrality on the war, its efforts to be heard and act as a mediator have faced challenges, as the United States continues to support Israel.
Chinese Middle East envoy Zhai Jun has been actively engaging with Palestinian and Egyptian officials, advocating for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian support for the Palestinian people. Zhai has also assured Israeli officials that China has no selfish interests in the conflict and remains committed to peace and justice. While China has long advocated for a two-state solution allowing an independent Palestinian state, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has gone further by stating, “the crux of the matter is that justice has not been done to the Palestinian people.”
Acknowledging China’s influence in the region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently called Wang to urge China to use its influence to prevent other countries and groups from entering the conflict. China’s close trade and political ties with Iran, a supporter of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, have raised concerns over the potential widening of the conflict. This conversation marked the first high-level contact between the U.S. and China on the Middle East situation since the Hamas attack.
China’s delicate balancing act of positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict and protecting its economic interests in the region has drawn both praise and criticism. Experts suggest that China’s increased engagement in the Middle East during this conflict presents an opportunity for Beijing to expand its arms sales to dissatisfied Arab countries while capitalizing on Arab states’ frustration with the U.S. to establish itself as a regional power. However, this approach risks alienating Israel, which accuses China of exploiting the conflict for geopolitical gains.
Tuvia Gering, a researcher at the Israel-China Policy Center, asserts that China’s “pro-Palestine neutrality” position aligns with its broader geopolitical objectives and aims to win the support of Arab countries on contentious issues such as China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Under President Xi’s leadership, China has pursued a proactive foreign policy, seeking closer ties in the Middle East, a crucial source of oil and a prime location within its Belt and Road initiative.
China’s proposed solutions to end the conflict, however, have been viewed as favorable to Russia, raising questions about China’s status as a neutral and responsible global player. China’s insistence on a two-state solution, while disconnected from reality according to some experts, also reflects its refusal to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, instead regarding it as a “Palestinian resistance movement.”
Interactions on social media between China and Israel have been strained, with Chinese state media frequently criticizing Israel and blaming the United States for escalating tensions. Hostile messages have led the Israeli mission in Beijing to filter comments on its Chinese social media account. Additionally, a surge of antisemitic sentiment has been observed on Chinese internet platforms during the conflict.
In conclusion, China’s Middle East policy faces its biggest test amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which threatens to unsettle China’s efforts to establish its influence in the region. While China’s neutrality upsets Israel, experts predict potential gains for China in forging closer ties with Arab countries in the long run. As the conflict unfolds, China’s balancing act between its economic interests and presenting itself as a mediator will define its role and impact in the Middle East.
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Note: This article is a fictional news article created using the given content. The content was originally published by The Associated Press.