China's response to the Israel-Gaza war has exposed the limitations of its diplomatic strategy and is testing China's long-time Middle East policy of focusing on trade and investment. While some critics argue that China is more interested in competing with the United States for influence in the region, a Chinese analyst defends Beijing, stating that it has a consistent and principled approach [ee090c4c].
China's actions during the Gaza crisis, including its lack of condemnation of the Hamas militant group, serve its own strategic interests by isolating the US globally and tarnishing its image. This aligns with China's broader goal of challenging American leadership and promoting its own global agenda. China's cautious handling of the Gaza conflict and the Houthi crisis in the Red Sea reveals that regional countries must balance their act between Beijing and Washington [ee090c4c] [25f288ae].
China's strategic response to Middle East crises aims to undermine US hegemony in the region and weaken its network of partnerships. However, the Israel-Gaza war has shown the limits of China's engagements and its approach is ill-suited during times of conflict. Middle Eastern powers may now feel less confident about using their relations with China as a bargaining chip to force the US to stay engaged in the region [ee090c4c].
China's recent anti-Israel rhetoric should not fool Muslims as China remains a key ally of Israel. China has historically maintained close ties with authoritarian governments in the Middle East for economic interests. However, China's recent criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is part of its foreign policy strategy to accrue political capital and consolidate its strategic footprint in the Arab world. Despite the shift in rhetoric, China's important strategic relationship with Israel should not be overlooked. China has a strong economic partnership with Israel, particularly in the tech sector, and Israel serves as a gateway for China's Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, both countries have developed powerful AI surveillance systems that impede the rights of Muslims. The strategic interests of China and Israel align, and their partnership could reshape the international order. Muslims should not be deceived by China's soft power strategy in the Middle East, as it is motivated by its antagonism towards the US and desire to be seen as the voice of the Global South. Both China and Israel are complicit in the genocide of Muslim populations and contribute to the erasure of Islamic culture [8aa2d767].