China did not take part in pronouncing their “strong condemnation” trend on the attack of Hamas resistance group on Israeli occupation like other countries. The country continued to stick with their silence for about a week in to the war. Last week during a meeting with Egyptian leader, Xi Jinping, President of China, said Beijing would work with Egypt in hope to bring in “more stability”, according to the state media.
On October 19, China has urged for a “two-state solution” claiming it to be the only possible “fundamental solution” for the “Israel-Palestine issue”. The country called for an immediate ceasefire” and returning to the “track of dialogue and negotiation”. China also demanded for ensuring of “international humanitarian law” and said “humanitarian corridor must be opened immediately” adhering to the chronic humanitarian crisis in Gaza which erupted as the result of Israel’s transparent genocide in the conclave.
当前形势下,各方的外交努力应致力于发出共同信号:
第一,战争没有赢家,以暴制暴只能带来更严重危机。必须立即停火,放弃军事手段,回到对话谈判的轨道上来。第二,任何针对平民的暴力和袭击都应被摒弃。巴勒斯坦人民和以色列人民都有免于恐惧的权利,他们的安全应该得到同等保护。… pic.twitter.com/px2C0sNxgO
— Chinese Mission to UN (@Chinamission2un) October 19, 2023
China called itself a “friend to both Israel and Palestine”. China’s ambassador to United Nations Security Council, Zhai Jun has earlier said that the situation in Gaza is escalating day by day and “more and more civilians are paying the price”. He called for the Council to “heed the just call of Arab countries and the Palestinian people” and “play its due role” to avoid “greater humanitarian disaster”.
The current situation in Gaza is escalating. More and more civilians are paying the price. The Council should heed the just call of the Arab countries and the Palestinian people, and fulfill its obligations and play its due role in promoting ceasefire, protecting civilians, and… https://t.co/VRbkfN6GUh
— Zhang Jun (@ChinaAmbUN) October 18, 2023
The country also pronounced about being “deeply disappointed at the US blocking a UN Security Council resolution on the Palestine-Israel situation”.
China is deeply disappointed at the US blocking a UN Security Council resolution on the Palestinian-Israeli situation. The Security Council needs to perform its duty and function in deescalating the conflict and preventing the humanitarian disaster from getting worse. pic.twitter.com/0hiiU6cGrB
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) October 19, 2023
China refused to label Hamas as “terrorist” like the western countries who continuously slammed the resistance group with the said title.” According to The Washington Post, top diplomat of China has raised the question of the time when Palestinians will return to their home, suggesting about the importance of two-estate solution by saying that the “Jewish nation is no longer homeless in the world”.
In an attempt to re-mould the country’s position in the face of the world – China, who earlier used to steer clear of pronouncing any remarks on conflicts involving the Middle East – has changed its stance on participating in the “competition” of inking their opinion. The country voiced its support for the Arab nations as an attempt to quench its business interests.
A nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, which is a think tank, Jonathan Fulton is of the opinion that “China’s soft message on Hamas is part of a much bigger strategy”.
China’s soft message on Hamas is part of a much bigger strategy https://t.co/E3muBXM5JO
— Jonathan Fulton (@jonathandfulton) October 13, 2023
He also said that since “Palestine is such an emotion and hot-button political issue for the Middle East means that when China offers rhetoric to Palestine, they’re going to speak not just to the Palestinians, but also to those Arab countries that want to see a great power support them on this issue”, as quoted by The Washington Post.
China has, according to some reports, deployed six warships including the 052D guided-missile destroyer Zibo, the frigate Jingzhou, and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu – considering the increasing tensions and they are all part of the PLA’s 44th naval escort task-force. They are deployed for some undisclosed location in the Middle Eastern waters, said Chinese state media.
For China, the current crisis in the Middle East can be a perfect opportunity to place itself as a “peacemaker” in the Middle East and score against US, who boasts about being an “ultimate super power”, a notion China clearly and blatantly disagree with. Since Russia and US are in a tiff, the season may be favourable for China to strengthen its relationship with the “nuclear power house” as well. According to experts, the equation may slip out from China’s grip if the conflagration of the war happened.
Relation between China with Palestine and Israel.
According to The Washington Post, China had always slanted towards Palestine, after its “brief” attempt to connect with Israel during the early years after 1949, in which the People’s Republic of China was established. When Mao Zedong, who was credited with transformation of China from a semi-colony to a leading country, China visibly slanted towards Palestine as the Mao led government promised their unwavering support to “Palestinian fighters”, during 1960s. After the revolutionary leader’s death in 1976, China started softening its edges with Israel and during 1992, China has started normalising ties with Israel while keeping a good relationship with Palestine.