A decade after the start of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the People’s Republic of China is facing a significant diplomatic dilemma as a result of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This is a critical juncture in the PRC’s evolving engagement with the Middle East. China is becoming more and more powerful in the region, as evidenced by the March rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran that Beijing arranged. China has cultivated harmonious and cooperative relations with major powers like Iran, Israel, and Arab states by skillfully navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East over the years. Israel in particular has become China’s most important strategic ally, giving Beijing the technological advances it needs to compete with the USA.
However, China, led by Xi Jinping, aims to establish itself as a responsible global player dedicated to peace and stability, despite criticism from Western countries and Israel regarding its stance on the Gaza conflict. China has taken a measured stance in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, calling for a “two-state solution” and a ceasefire without openly supporting any side. China has long supported Palestinian neutrality in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and this is consistent with that position. It has two driving forces behind its diplomatic machinations in the Middle East: political and economic ones. But the Gaza war creates complications that put Beijing’s careful balancing act to the test, demanding an examination of Beijing’s political clout beyond trade relations in times of peace.
Hamas, which is the main force in the Gaza Strip, is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the USA, and the EU. They argue that Israel’s offensive against Hamas embodies the necessary conditions to combat terrorism. At the same time, China’s involvement in Middle Eastern affairs has grown, resulting in an increasing sphere of influence in the region. As a result, many countries, especially those in the Middle East, place a great deal of weight on China’s position regarding the Gaza-Israel dispute
Moreover, China’s foreign policy is deeply rooted in its pro-Palestinian sentiments, which date back to Mao Zedong’s time. The Gaza conflict has wider geopolitical implications that are entwined with the larger strategic competition between the USA and the PRC. Beijing believes that Western influence is to blame for the Israel-Palestine conflict. China argues that its interests, which are mainly focused on energy security and freedom of navigation, are not significantly impacted by the conflict as long as it does not spread into a larger regional crisis, at least not right now. Despite that, China is confronted with the challenge of its hesitancy to take a significant role in the Israel-Hamas conflict as it attempts to gain influence in the Middle East, establish itself as a rival power, and promote peace. Despite China’s potential influence, this reluctance highlights how intricate China’s geopolitical engagement is given the complexity of the Middle East.
On the other hand, China’s geopolitical manoeuvre to strengthen its influence in the Arab world and offset its global positioning in relation to the USA, is achieved through its strategic alignment with the Palestinian cause in the ongoing crisis. China is forced by the subtleties of power dynamics to abstain from openly denouncing Hamas as a result of this cunning manoeuvre. The irony resides in the seemingly contradictory similarities between Israel and China, two states that epitomize advanced technological security and rigorously monitor and control Muslim populations that are viewed as security threats.
Even though China and Israel seem to have a lot in common, with strong security apparatuses, geopolitical pragmatism drives China to forgo clear support for Israel, which is a staunch ally of the USA. Beijing sees little use for standing with Israel in the current war. Rather, it deliberately positions itself as a supporter of the Palestinian cause, lining its own objectives with the attitudes that are dominant in the Arab world. This geopolitical move highlights the complex web of international relations and the subtle interactions between interests and alliances.
Meanwhile, Israel emphasizes how the conflict has recently flared up, while China emphasizes how the fundamental solution to Palestine’s problem is inherent. These conflicting focuses show different viewpoints. The world community has come up with a variety of interpretations for every iteration of the Gaza-Israel puzzle in recent years.
Hamas, which is the main force in the Gaza Strip, is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the USA, and the EU. They argue that Israel’s offensive against Hamas embodies the necessary conditions to combat terrorism. At the same time, China’s involvement in Middle Eastern affairs has grown, resulting in an increasing sphere of influence in the region. As a result, many countries, especially those in the Middle East, place a great deal of weight on China’s position regarding the Gaza-Israel dispute.
