Israeli-American relations are experiencing tension from time to time due to the growing Chinese influence in Israel, and the American fear of increasing the presence of the Asian dragon with its pampered ally, and the possibility that it infiltrates its military and security secrets ... The following questions put their hand on the most important sites of Chinese influence in Israel, and the most prominent economic projects of China And investment, and the nature of Israeli and American security concerns from their growing.
When was the resumption of Sino-Israeli relations?
Although China began its diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, the eighties era witnessed informal contacts between some circles of the two countries on varying occasions from which Israel acquired supplies of military technology, and after the killing of students in Tiananmen Square in the late 1980s, China believed that establishing formal relations with Israel would help Improving its image in the West.
Since the resumption of these relations, Chinese and Israeli trade has grown at a rate of 10% every year, and out of 42 Israeli economic attaches operating around the world, there are 6 in China.
Expansion of Haifa Port as a lever for trade between Israel, China and Asia (Al-Jazeera)
What are the most prominent aspects of the Chinese economic penetration in Israel?
Israel has allowed China to achieve a very deep penetration into its economic system, where tens of thousands of Chinese work in various operational fields. China dug a series of tunnels in Carmel, Jerusalem and Gush Dan, and acquired the major food company "Tnuva", and it runs strategic projects such as mining and building the southern port in Ashdod And the establishment of light railways in Tel Aviv and the construction of the train line to Eilat, and it now knows all the joints of the Israeli economy.
As for the main export process of Israel to China, it is concentrated in electronic components at 51%, and there are 3 main and growing industries of Israeli exports to China, which are industrial measuring and control equipment, chemicals, and medical equipment, and while the high-tech industry is the main driver of growth in Israel, the design was designed. "Comprehensive Innovation Partnership" with China in 2017 to strengthen the relationship between Israeli technological innovation and China's demand for it.
Although the Chinese "Belt and Road" initiative does not officially include Israel in its maps, its geographical location, the important Chinese economic participation in it, and the normalization agreements place it at a major strategic point in the Chinese initiative.
How much is the volume of Chinese-Israeli trade exchange?
The total number of Chinese investment deals in Israel ranges from 40 to 45 deals annually, 12 in software and information technology, and 4-7 in chips and semiconductors, and although Chinese investment has not yet exceeded 10% of the total foreign capital in Israel, it won large tenders for the infrastructure. Transportation infrastructure in Israel, and began bidding for water and electricity infrastructure.
The statistics documented the conclusion of 463 investment deals and mergers and acquisitions in Israel from Chinese companies between 2002 and 2020, and China became the second largest trading partner of Israel after the United States, and before each European country separately, and while the volume of their intra-trade in 2001 reached $ 1.07 billion, it rose in 2018. To $ 11.6 billion.
Beijing is the third largest destination for Israeli exports after Washington and London with a value of $ 4.7 billion, and it exports cars, electronics, chemical and medical products, and optical equipment. The Israeli import from Beijing comes second after Washington, with a value of $ 11.4 billion in the industries of electronics, textiles, children's toys, furniture, metals, and chemicals. The Israelites' relationship with China is like an "ant on the back of a dragon."
Israel aspires to attract Chinese tourists in large numbers to revitalize its tourism sector (Reuters)
What is the rate of tourism between China and Israel?
Israeli economic trends focus on attracting more Chinese tourists, because they are considered a strategic market for it, and the Ministry of Tourism has opened two offices in Beijing and Shanghai, to market Israeli tourist sites to the Chinese who arrive in the tens of thousands to Israel to participate in exhibitions for sales and purchases.
Israeli economic circles have placed China among its most important tourism goals, because it generates large financial revenues, and the Israeli tourism market coming from China is ranked seventh, with a rate of 105,000 tourists in 2018, and the number rose in 2019 to 150,000, an increase of 50%.
Why is Washington angry at the Chinese-Israeli rapprochement?
The United States has exercised pressure in recent years on Israel to reconsider its economic relations with Beijing because it raises its concerns, as it invests in technology sectors that Washington considers critical to its national security, and the American concern lies in translating China's investments into strategic influence, and creating an increasing Israeli dependence on its companies. In building, developing and operating its infrastructure facilities, some of which are in security-sensitive areas.
American forums criticize the ineffective Israeli regulatory mechanisms for Chinese "involvement" in its economy, because Chinese interference in the Israeli high-tech industry carries the risk of industrial espionage on it, and future Chinese attempts to interfere in the Israeli political system cannot be ruled out.
Washington’s pressure on Tel Aviv resulted in Beijing being deprived of operating the Sorek desalination facility for 25 years, because it is adjacent to the Palmakhim Air Base, where US forces are stationed, and near the Nahal Center for Nuclear Research.
How does Israel seek to limit Chinese influence in it?
With the growing internal security pressures, and the American foreign, Israel decided to form a "National Security and Foreign Investment Advisory Committee" as a necessary step to prevent China from continuing to expand its investments in it and deal with it within the borders drawn by the United States, so it stopped its military exports to China at the request of Washington.
20 Chinese officials participate in a workshop in Israel on medical disaster management (Reuters)
What are the most prominent Israeli positions rejecting the Chinese penetration?
Israeli security officials reserve their growing relationship with China as resembling the relationship of a "chubby troll with a threatening giant", and they believe that China is not a friend and not a substitute for American support, and it seems as if Israel gave the Soviet Union control over its strategic locations before the 1967 and 1973 wars.
In their turn, retired Marine Brigadier General Shabtai Levy and the head of the Center for Maritime Policy and Strategic Research, Professor Shaul Horev, believe that "Chinese economic projects in Israel - especially in the field of strategic infrastructure - are not desirable, as China is trying to use the Jewish mind."
As for the former head of the Mossad, Ephraim Halevy, he warned that "Chinese control over strategic investments may weaken Israeli sovereignty and weaken its ability to deal with the escalation of the conflict in front of Iran."
For his part, the head of the Shin Bet security service, Nadav Argaman, affirmed that "the Chinese influence in Israel is dangerous, especially when it comes to the strategic infrastructure and the investments of major economic companies."
Why are the Israelis and Americans keeping Chinese influence growing?
The first reservation is related to the fact that the Chinese presence in Israel gives it a foothold to launch cyber intelligence attacks through its infrastructure - especially electricity, communications and water storage networks - to collect technological, industrial and military information, as the US Sixth Fleet appears from time to time off Israeli shores.
The second reservation concerns that China has an interest in achieving a breakthrough in Israel through 5G communications, especially for advanced companies such as Huawei, which is linked to Chinese intelligence services, and is fighting a boycott war from the US administration, which enables the Chinese superpower to exploit Israeli resources to obtain highly dangerous technological information. .
The third reservation is related to China's long-term strategic plan "China 2050", and includes the gradual control of the telecommunications market in the world, which makes Chinese interference with Israeli projects a threat to it, which may include targeting them and using them as platforms to carry out attacks against Israel.
The fourth reservation relates to the fact that the continued Chinese presence in Israel may restrain its hands from attacking Iran. China is present in the Iranian energy industry and economy, and is considered its first trading partner in the world, especially with the signing of the last agreement for a period of 25 years, which makes any Israeli attack on Iran. He could provoke a dispute with China if any of its sites there are targeted.