West Asia is a very strategic space at the junction of Asia, Europe and Africa. The region has been a sphere of competition among great powers throughout the history. The redrawing of map of modern West Asia after World War I by the victorious powers with their own strategic and geopolitical interests has made the region more unstable and susceptible to competing geopolitical interests and rivalry of the external powers. The region also witnessed the intense Cold War competition and rivalry of the US and USSR. The United has been the dominant power in the region in the second half of the 20th century which assumed hegemonic proportion in the post-Cold War period. For last one century, issue of Palestine has been most intractable factor at the center of the geopolitics in the region with global ramifications. The position of powers on Palestine has been a determining factor of their influence in the region. The rise of China and its growing influence in the region with its numerous policies and initiatives is spurring its power stature with its assertive Palestine policy in the wake of Gaza war underway.

The Chinese are astutely making the peace gesture in the region which finds political and popular echo in the region when it says that the Palestine question has been the core issue in the region. Only a comprehensive peace on a fair and just basis can bring a lasting peace and security in the region. In this regard it has proposed four-point peace plan as well. First, ceasefire and cessation of violence is the top priority, especially Israel must exercise restraint in particular Second, humanitarian assistance is an urgent need. China urges Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under international treaties, lift all the blockade and siege of Gaza as soon as possible, guarantee the safety and rights of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, and provide access for humanitarian assistance. Third, international support and vigorous action by UN Security Council on the Palestine-Israel conflict, reiterate its firm support for a "two-state solution," Fourth, a "two-state solution" is the fundamental way out. China supports the two sides resuming peace talks based on a "two-state solution" as soon as possible, to establish an independent State of Palestine with full sovereignty with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 border and subsequent harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations only can lead to a lasting peace in the region. (XinhuaNet, 2021 17th May)

The visit of President Abbas to China and agreement

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas just completed his three days state visit to China, his fifth visit to the country. The visit is important with the fact that China is ready to help facilitate the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The main goal of this trip was to strengthen bilateral relations, exchange views on the latest developments in Palestine besides other regional and international issues of common concern. (WAFA 2023) President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Palestine are good friends, partners and trust and support each other. It was recalled that China was one of the first countries recognize Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine and firm support for restoring their legitimate national rights. It witnessed commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations and signing of the economic and technological cooperation agreements. (FMPRC 2023 June 14)

In a great show of support to the Palestinian sovereignty China affirmed its support for Palestine to become a full state member of the United Nations and would continue speaking for the Palestinian justice in multilateral forums and provide best possible assistance “to help ease humanitarian difficulties and reconstruction in Palestine.” (SCIO 2023) It is notable that the President Xi Jinping had expressed China’s support to gain full membership of the United Nations during his visit to Riyadh in December 2022. These are rare expressions of support for Palestine from such a global power. It assumes greater salience in the wake of weakening of US support, withdrawal of commitments and assistance and genuine push for peace with Israel.

The Joint Statement with during the state visit of Palestine President established the Strategic Partnership and China pledged support for legitimate Palestinian rights based on two-states solution with 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as capital and Palestine’s firm support to One-China principle and opposition to any attempts of interference in internal affairs of China. Both agreed for cooperation in Belt and Road Initiative, China-Palestine Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, China-Palestine Free Trade Area, as well as in the field of culture, education and information. Also vowed cooperation in regional and international affairs to strengthen multilateralism. (CGTN 2023) The grandeur of the visit with the global optics and commitments of China towards the most critical issue of Palestine and public resolve to resolve it is the significant Chinese outreach with profound geopolitical significance for the region. In the face of US failure in making peace owing to its obvious support for Israel and overlooking its settlement expansion in the West Bank, disproportionate use of force against Palestinian, China has become a rising hope for peace in Palestine.

China and Recent Palestine Crisis

As the tension and violence spiraling up in Palestine, the Chinese Foreign Minister had telephonic conversation with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen and said that “All parties should stay calm and exercise restraint, and refrain from any radical or provocative words and actions. The fundamental way out is to resume peace talks and implement the two-states solution.” (FMPRC 2023 April 14) The vision of common security of both Israel and Palestine was to be upheld. The recent restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is “a fine example of resolving differences through dialogue”, he added. Such an intervention in the midst of the crisis and talk of genuine resolution of the century old inexorable conflict through dialogue and diplomacy finds positive echo in the region and ripples of hope all around, enhancing China’s influence as a power with credibility as a peace maker.

The perception of China and its role in West Asia has gained substantially with its stands on Palestinian and its offer of mediation based on two state solution. “The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and bears on enduring peace, stability and security in the Middle East region. To deescalate the Palestine-Israel conflict and resolve the Palestinian question, the fundamental way out lies in resuming the peace talks, enforcing the two-states solution, and establishing an independent Palestinian state,” said the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Qin Gang. He further added that “China upholds fairness and justice on the Palestinian question.” (FMPRC 2023 May 16)

The Palestine remains to be the core geopolitical issue for West Asian politics, regional peace and global diplomacy. The US is no more perceived as an honest broker given its extraordinary close strategic alliance with Israel and an unexplained silence to Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories. The Chinese words find an overwhelming echo of support for the Chinese Palestinian stand and peace gestures. The Iran-Saudi rapprochement has strengthened the hope in Chinese support, a huge ripple of Chinese influence in the entire region. Following Beijing’s success in brokering the Saudi Iranian diplomatic agreement in March, the support for Chinese diplomacy has substantially increased. Now around 80 percent of the people expressed a clear opinion in support of a Chinese role in Israeli-Palestinian Peace talks. (Tello, Anan 2023)

The cycle of violence in Palestine and US policy of vacillation and ambiguity and silence on Israeli excesses, makes Chinese engagement desirable into this century old inexorable crisis for a possible way out to peace. After the Chinese trial of peace making between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a congenial atmosphere is underway, and the Chinese peace plan finds strong receptibility with hope of success. Chinese Ambassador, Geng Shuang made the remark at the UN Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question stressed three points in the wake of violence in Palestine. “First, the historical status quo of religious holy sites in Jerusalem must be respected and upheld. Second, the illegal expansion of settlements on the occupied territories must stop. Third, international humanitarian law must be observed.” Besides he further added that “China will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights and support the establishment of a sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” (PMPRC 2023)

China in Coordination with Russia to Legitimatize US position on Palestine

China and Russia call for immediate ceasefire, de-escalation and resume peace talk, not in favour of airstrike and ground invasion. Russia immediately responded with grave concern and emphasized on diplomatic and political solution of the issue based on well-known international legal framework stipulating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with a capital in East Jerusalem that coexist with Israel in peace and security by calling an immediate ceasefire. (MFA October 7, 2023) Russia has referred to the failure of US policy for the present crisis which could allow a possible solution. The US effort to monopolise the mediation has prevented a genuine dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis. Given the normalization trend between Iran-Saudi Arabia, Syria-Arab League and headway in Syria-Turkey “the Palestinian problem can no longer be postponed the UN resolutions must be implemented”. This implies coexistence of two states Israel and Palestine, living in peace, security and good neighbourliness”. (MFA October 9, 2023).

China has not condemned the Hamas and expressed deep concern about the escalation of the conflict. “The fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishment of an independent state of Palestine.” (FMPRC October 8, 2023). China has proposed for an international conference with greater authority and asked for UN obligation and responsibility to resolve the Palestine Question. Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue, Mr. Jhai Jun has made extensive and intensive diplomatic engagements with the countries of the region. (FMPRC October 13, 2023) The approach is abundantly clear that China is pursuing an alternate strategy which is intended to break and replace the West and US in particular in the geopolitics of the region. The Special Envoy of China for Middle East, Jhai Jun had a meeting the envoys of the Arab States in China and the responsible officials of the mission of the Arab League in China. The Special Envoy said that China is opposed to the moves that harms civilians and condemns that acts in violation of the international law. The Arab side highly appreciated and thanked China for upholding a just position on the Palestinian question for a long time and expressed the hope that China will continue to play a positive and constructive role. (FMPRC October 14, 2023) China and Russia has aligned on Palestine policy and approach to the crisis as part of their global strategy against the West and the US in particular. Russian Presidential envoy and Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Bogdanov and China’s West Asia, Jhai Jun talked of their coordinated intervention for ceasefire, peace and an enduring resolution of the issue. (FMPRC October 20, 2023) They had meeting at Doha on 20th Oct and attended the Cairo Peace Summit on 21st Oct, 2023 as well as engaged with the leaders in the region and coordinating their responses in the UN as well.

The Israel’s ground operation and ordering of one million North Gazans to move to Southern Gaza received an opposing response of China. The meeting of delegation of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr Wang Yi and their expectation of China playing greater role in resolution of this dispute with requite fairness and justice demonstrates the Chinese position of trust in the region. (FMPRC November 20, 2023). In his address to the Extraordinary BRICS Virtual Summit on the Situation in the Middle East with particular Reference to Gaza, President Xi Jinping called for justice and peace in Palestine-Israel issue. He stressed for three urgent imperatives of immediate ceasefire; secure and unimpeded humanitarian corridor and prevent spilling of the conflict endangering the stability of the entire region and emphasized implementation of the UNSC Resolution and stressed that Palestinian statehood is at the core of the conflict. (Remarks November 21, 2023). The Chinese stand is in line with Palestinian demand and stance of the Arab and Islamic world and is increasingly perceived as a credible peace maker.

The adoption of the UNSC Resolution 2712 is the first breakthrough on Gaza crisis calling “for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for sufficient days” and release of hostages by Hamas and other groups. (Resolution 2712 (2023). The relevant Resolution was passed with 12 members voting in favour, none against and three abstentions (US, UK and Russia). The importance of the Resolution lies in the fact that it got affirmative votes after the failure of four Resolution last month. The UNSC Resolution are binding but (UN Palestine November 16, 2023) The UNSC presidency of China has played major role to bring this about. The abstentions of the three Permanent Veto wielding members is a marked diplomatic success over its western rivals in the geopolitical quagmire of West Asia.

Working very closely with the ambassadors of the Arab group in the UNSC and UNGA at large and address the media at the UN together has been a powerful visual of China’s strategy to expand its geopolitical standing and influence. The expression of Chinese Ambassador to the UN Jhang Jun along with the Arab group about ceasefire and emphasis on working together towards eventual cessation and solution of the crisis. (Joint Statement November 15, 2023) The Chinese diplomatic engagement and its approach finds perceptible appreciation in the Arab and Islamic countries of the region and is bound to spur its geopolitical expansion in the region in the wake of the ambiguous strategies of the West and the US in particular.

China has been consistent on immediate ceasefire of the Gaza war and two-state solution through a broad-based international peace conference. The Chinese Government Envoy on West Asia (Middle East) issue, Mr Jhai Jun emphasized that solution lies in realizing peaceful existence of Palestine and Israel. The Global Civilization Initiative of China pushing for civilizational dialogue and exchange to fix the vexing issue like Palestine. It enthuses the Arab countries to invoke the power of civilization to inject regional peace and stability. The Chinese policy and position gaining more appreciation and acceptance. (FMPRC 2023 October 26)

China’s credential as mediator in the Palestine crisis is gaining momentum as the mediation credibility of the West and the US in particular is on fast waning track. The representatives of the Palestinian Liberation Movement (Fatah) and Hamas has met in Beijing with the Chinese invitation and have agreed for prudent reconciliation and Palestinian unity and national rights, a promising development towards possible peace negotiation (FMPRC 2024 April 30) During the 10th Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has been dominated by Palestine. China has reiterated its position of support for Palestinian people’s just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, and ready to work with the Palestinian side to take this Ministerial Conference as an opportunity to promote greater development of China-Palestine Strategic Partnership, and to push forward China’s cooperation with Arab States to a new level. (FMPRC 2024 May 29)

The recent Chinese Position Paper on Resolving the Palestine-Israel Conflict makes its approach manifest which emphasizes the Two-State solution, building international consensus for peace through a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestine issue. In pursuance of the UN Charter, it stresses the primary role of the UN Security Council at this juncture- First, implementing a comprehensive ceasefire; Second, Effective protection of civilians; Third, ensuring humanitarian assistance; Fourth, enhancing diplomatic mediation; and Fifth, seeking political settlement based on two-state solution, restoration national rights of Palestine with full sovereignty based 1967 borders. (FMPRC 2023 November 30) The Chinese stand at UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, views on Israeli operations and its diplomatic engagements put it on the other side of the United States position.

The century old conflict is extremely intractable and has become more inexorable with Iran-Israel rivalry, Iranian proxies, US’s Iran policy as well as its loosening strategic grips over Saudi Arabia and UAE. The Israeli operation and destruction of Gaza has been turning the world opinion and the international organization against Israel. The voice of Global South led by the South Africa has made the position of the US Arab untenable. The student movements in the US and Europe have been sapping the diplomatic stature and credibility of the West and the US in particular. The recognition of State of Palestine by few European countries has completely changed the paradigm of the conflict and its solution. The stand and position of the NATO nation Turkey which is vehemently opposed to Israeli operation has weakened the US primacy and the battle of perception seems favourable to China. The Chinese position during the current crisis, its diplomatic pitch at the International Court of Justice and hosting of unity meeting of Hamas and Fatah are ample evidence of China’s appetite for a peace maker. But one thing is notable that China’s outreach is limited to the diplomatic sphere and does not seem to have willingness to make any economic or military commitment or investment in the conflict. The changing global geopolitical trends is pushing the Palestine issue to the emerging intense great power competition of the US and China. The new US sponsored UNSC Resolution 2735 adopted by the UN Security Council has added new dimension to this competition. Irrespective of the outcome, great power competition is on its intensifying trajectory on Palestine.

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