What’s happening:
China convened a significant diplomatic meeting in Beijing with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Indonesia to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Why it matters:
This gathering underscores China’s expanding role in Middle Eastern geopolitics and its intention to assert influence over the current Israel-Hamas war. It also highlights China’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause, contrasted with its silence on Hamas’s initial attacks.
Big picture:
As the world’s second-largest economy, China is becoming more vocal and involved in international affairs, positioning itself as a key player in conflict resolution, as evidenced by its recent mediation of the Saudi Arabia-Iran rapprochement.
The details:
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the meeting, emphasizing solidarity with Arab and Islamic nations and advocating for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza. The visiting ministers plan to continue their efforts for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid delivery.
Contrasting views:
While China presents itself as a “good friend and brother” to Arab and Islamic countries, it faces criticism over human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, as reported by the United Nations in 2022.
Israel’s stance:
Israel’s ambassador to China, Irit Ben-Abba, stated that Israel is already facilitating humanitarian aid in collaboration with international entities and suggested that pressure on Israel is politically driven and unhelpful for the humanitarian situation.
Bottom line:
China’s meeting with Middle Eastern foreign ministers represents a strategic move to extend its diplomatic influence and shape the response to the Israel-Hamas war, while also dealing with its own international human rights scrutiny.
This story was first published on foxnews.