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Home page / Policy Papers / China-Israel Relations
Beijing failed to condemn Hamas for the October 7 massacre and has accused Israel of going “beyond self-defense” in its response. China is using the conflict to position itself as a superpower to rival the United States in a multipolar world. Its interests are averse to Israel’s.
It is not desirable to exacerbate the tensions with the US only due to the desire to increase sales of Israeli products to the Chinese market. Israel should also consider the West’s criticism of its policy toward Ukraine, its relations with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region, and that China and Iran signed a strategic agreement. It should also reevaluate its position toward Taiwan.
Beijing's anti-Israel statements and actions during the recent Gaza operation undermined Israeli trust in China.
China aims to play a more proactive role in the Middle East, maintaining cordial relations with all rival countries. Beijing attaches great importance to its ties with Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Egypt, and therefore has welcomed the Abraham Accords (albeit in lukewarm fashion, because of tensions with the Trump administration).
The Jewish state’s relationship with the U.S. is stronger for resting on an informal basis; replacing it with a formal alliance would do no good and only anger the world’s other major power.
Israel's strategy toward China doesn't conflict with American interests; rather, it serves and reinforces them. Partnering with Beijing can help stabilize the Middle East. Partnering with Asian nations threatened by Beijing can help build a counterbalance to Chinese power.
In the past decade, relations between Israel and China have become closer, following a decision in Jerusalem to diversify and expand Israel's ties with emerging powers and countries that do not belong to the European Union and are less identified with the American coalition. The visit to Israel by China's vice president is evidence of the warming of relations between the two countries.
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