China’s Middle East Strategy Faces Turbulence Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict, Yet Could Ultimately Benefit Beijing

In June, the President of China, Xi Jinping, welcomed the Palestinian leader to Beijing and extended an invitation to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for a formal state visit. The acceptance of the invitation by Netanyahu indicated that China was gearing up for an expanded role in the Middle East.

However, the situation was upended when Hamas launched attacks against Israel, throwing Netanyahu’s late October visit into question and challenging China’s diplomatic stance in the Middle East. China’s declared impartiality in the conflict has irritated Israel, but experts suggest that Beijing might ultimately profit by strengthening its ties with Arab nations.

“China’s policy towards the Middle East has been temporarily stalled due to the conflict,” noted Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing. “The United States, a strong ally of Israel, is either directly or indirectly involved. Who is left to listen to China?”

Despite these setbacks, China continues its diplomatic efforts. The country’s Middle East envoy, Zhai Jun, has been in communication with Palestinian and Egyptian officials, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Palestinians. Zhai also reached out to Israeli authorities, emphasizing China’s dedication to peace, fairness, and justice.

Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, articulated stronger support for Palestinians, attributing the conflict to the injustice faced by the Palestinian people. “The real solution to the Palestinian issue is to resume genuine peace negotiations as promptly as possible and acknowledge the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” he stated.

In a recent interaction, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to leverage its influence in the region to prevent the conflict from escalating. Although China has well-known trade and political affiliations with Iran—which backs Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon—the nature of Wang’s response remains undisclosed.

Academics Maria Papageorgiou and Mohammad Eslami believe that China aims to act as a mediator, leveraging this crisis to bolster its influence. “U.S. support for Israel provides China an opportunity to expand arm sales to disgruntled Arab nations while protecting its economic interests in the Middle East,” they said.

However, Beijing’s stance may risk estranging Israel. Tuvia Gering, a researcher at the Israel-China Policy Center, criticized China for exploiting the conflict for geopolitical gains rather than assuming the role of a responsible major power.

Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has been increasingly proactive in its foreign policy, seeking to cement relationships in the Middle East. This year, China even played a role in reestablishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, further positioning itself as an alternative peace broker to the United States.

Wang Yiwei, another professor at Renmin University, opined that China is better equipped than the U.S. to mediate conflicts due to its neutral stance. “If you alienate one side, you cannot effectively mediate,” he stated.

Nevertheless, there are those who question China’s sincerity in its efforts to act as a mediator. Dale Aluf, research director at an Israel-based think tank, contended that China’s neutrality might be more of a projection than a reality.

Since the conflict erupted, Chinese state media have been highly critical of Israel, drawing upon Iranian news sources to accuse the Israeli military of unlawful actions. They have also blamed the United States, Israel’s staunchest supporter, for intensifying regional tensions.

This media stance has contributed to a spike in antisemitic sentiment online in China, according to Yaqiu Wang of Freedom House. “China’s government consistently frames the Israel-Palestine conflict in a way that places the onus squarely on Israel, a key ally of the U.S., as part of its larger strategy to undermine the United States on the world stage,” she concluded.

Contributions to this report were made by Ken Moritsugu and researcher Wanqing Chen in Beijing, as well as AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about China’s Middle East Strategy

More about China’s Middle East Strategy

• China’s Middle East Policy Overview
• The Israel-Hamas Conflict: A Timeline
• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
• Belt and Road Initiative: China’s Global Infrastructure Project
• China’s Relationship with Arab Countries
• China and the Two-State Solution
• Antisemitism in Chinese Social Media: A Study
• Renmin University of China: International Relations Faculty
• Institute for National Security Studies, Tel Aviv
• Freedom House: Research on China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan