China and the Gaza war: disagreement with Washington and search for a role in the region

President Xi Jinping (centre) reiterated several times China's position on settling the Palestinian issue (French)

China has always maintained a "balanced" foreign policy in the Middle East, as Beijing distances itself from the sharp conflicts in the region, and replaces that with positions calling for reducing tensions and bridging the gap between the parties.

Chinese officials' diplomatic interactions with the region strictly adhere to Beijing's policy of balancing the Gulf states and Iran and between major regional powers and the Israeli occupation.

The history of Chinese foreign policy is poor in its ability to achieve real breakthroughs in the region's crises, and its success in getting Tehran and Riyadh to sign the agreement to restore relations is an exceptional event in its relationship with the region.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, China has a firm position in its condemnation of the Israeli occupation and its constant call for a two-state solution in accordance with international resolutions.

In this context, China renewed this week its call for holding an international peace conference on the Palestinian issue and formulating a “road map” to implement the two-state solution.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, "President Xi Jinping clarified China's position on settling the Palestinian issue several times and called on every occasion to hold an international peace conference, most recently last June when he received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was on a visit to China."

In this report, we attempt to identify China's goals in engaging in the Palestinian issue through an international conference.

Will its call be accepted by the parties concerned in light of the American hegemony over the region and the parties concerned?

What can China offer to the issue if it succeeds in holding the conference?

Contrast with Washington

In the wake of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, China found itself facing the model it prefers in international politics, which is based on showing a difference from the American position.

In light of the broad support provided by Washington to the Israeli occupation at the military, political and diplomatic levels, China seeks to show a more neutral position, and has focused in its statements and positions on calling on both sides to exercise restraint and affirming the “two-state solution” as an alternative to the conflict.

Beijing also criticized Israel's comprehensive bombing of civilians and condemned violations of international law. In most of its comments on the confrontation in Gaza, it called for the implementation of the two-state solution and called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went further, describing Israel's bombing of civilians in Gaza as actions that "beyond the scope of self-defense."

China's position in using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council against draft American resolutions regarding the war on Gaza indicates China's keenness to adhere to its approach of not taking sides in the conflict while at the same time maintaining the discrepancy with the American position.

Peace conference

Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for holding an international peace conference to resolve the Palestinian issue as soon as possible. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously stressed that the top priority is a ceasefire, ensuring the security of United Nations facilities, and preventing a widespread humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "We are deeply saddened by the civilian casualties in Gaza, and condemn all actions that violate international law." She also expressed her shock at the Israeli attacks on UN facilities in the Gaza Strip.

This was not the first time that China called for an international peace conference, but its previous calls were not implemented and did not receive the required response from the Israeli occupation and the main international parties. The welcome was limited to the Palestinian side, which sees this as a compliment to China as an important international party that still calls for the two-state solution adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Beijing realizes the extent of the complexities of the conflict in the Middle East, and that entering into this conflict requires China's broader involvement in Middle Eastern politics, which is largely dominated by the United States. However, China's repeated calls to hold an international peace conference come in the context of proving its international policy in competition with Washington and overcoming the monopoly that the latter exercises in international files.

China papers

However, China has a number of cards that it can present to advance its approach, as it has good relations with the Palestinians and the main Arab countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar.

On the other hand, Chinese-Israeli relations with economic dimensions have developed in recent years, but these relations are subject to American pressure on the Israeli side that prevents them from becoming effective relations.

China also has strategic relations and agreements with Tehran, as the latter has an influential role in all files in the region, including the Palestinian issue, through its multifaceted support for the Palestinian resistance.

The fact that the Hamas movement has become a major party that cannot be ignored in the Palestinian and regional scene, requires Beijing to strengthen its relationship with the movement and raise the level of relations and publicize them so that it can play a more effective role.

The main factors required for China to play an effective role in the Palestinian issue must include a Chinese approach in which active international and regional parties in the Palestinian issue participate.

This also requires a clearer expression by China of its ability to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation, which acts as if it is above international law.

Almost no response

The recent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and the genocide committed by the occupation against the Palestinians, in addition to its continuing attacks in the West Bank and its expansion of settlement plans and annexation of Palestinian lands, have shown that the chance of him accepting Beijing’s calls to hold a peace conference is almost non-existent.

Also, China's tools for pressuring the Israeli occupation state do not appear clearly due to the nature of the relationship between the two sides and the recent development of it, and the support that Israel receives from the United States and Western countries makes it feel that it is outside of any pressure.

China's involvement in the conflict - albeit through the convening of an international conference - requires it to expand its approach throughout the Middle East region, which Beijing still has greater efforts to develop, especially at the strategic and security levels.

Anti-Western

It does not seem, so far, that China aspires to replace the American position in the Middle East, but it may be willing to enter through the United States’ bias towards Israel. Beijing has long taken advantage of Washington's repeated involvement in conflict in the region.

China also uses this call within its policy of “anti-Western neutrality” to attract a support base with a high population density and strategic importance.

Many countries in the Global South are sympathetic to Palestine, so calling for a peace conference is an issue that China can use to rally support for its leadership of the Global South.

By emphasizing its neutral stance and role as a voice for the Global South, China wants to question the moral position of the United States, legitimize the internationalization of the issue, and call for an international conference to start the peace process, thus extricating Washington from its decades-long policy of being the undisputed guardian of the conflict.

The ultimate goal is to undermine the United States' global standing and win the "power of rhetoric" war by capitalizing on sympathy for Palestinians around the world.

Source: Al Jazeera