China and Israel cautiously recalibrate relations amid regional conflict and great power rivalry

Two years after Gaza warstrained diplomatic ties, China and Israel are gradually restoring their economic and technological partnerships despite regional tensions and geopolitical pressures, reflecting a complex and evolving landscape.

Two years after the Gaza war triggered a significant chill in diplomatic ties between China and Israel, the two nations are cautiously rebalancing their relationship, driven largely by mutual economic and technological interests. Once lau...

ded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a marriage made in heaven,” the China-Israel partnership now navigates a more complex landscape shaped by regional conflict and escalating US-China rivalry.

Since November last year, China’s ambassador to Israel, Xiao Junzheng, has actively sought to rebuild goodwill by engaging with key infrastructure projects involving Chinese firms, such as the Tel Aviv light rail Green Line and the Haifa port container terminal. These visits underscore Beijing’s commitment to sustaining the comprehensive innovative partnership established in 2017, which focuses on technology and trade cooperation. However, the involvement of Chinese companies in Israeli infrastructure has sparked security concerns in Washington, illustrating the superpower competition increasingly complicating bilateral ties.

The diplomatic thaw follows earlier signals from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who, despite the tensions arising from the Gaza conflict, expressed China’s readiness to enhance relations with Israel. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in early 2024, Wang emphasised China’s long-term perspective on its ties with Israel and voiced willingness to advance the innovative partnership, which also includes Beijing’s investments in Israeli infrastructure development.

Yet, this rapprochement occurs amid a delicate and fraught geopolitical backdrop. China’s position on the Middle East conflict diverges notably from Israel’s closest ally, the United States. Following Hamas’s attacks on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent military response, China aligned itself with pro-Palestinian stances, calling for an independent Palestinian state and humanitarian aid for Gaza. President Xi Jinping has reiterated these calls, announcing substantial aid packages—500 million yuan (approximately $69 million) for Gaza and an additional $3 million to a UN agency assisting refugees—while advocating for an international peace conference to resolve the conflict.

In a bid to assert diplomatic influence in the region, China is collaborating closely with Russia to mediate the Palestine-Israel conflict, promoting a two-state solution and the de-escalation of violence. Chinese envoy Zhai Jun and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov have underscored their nations’ shared commitment to protecting Palestinian national rights and facilitating peace talks. China has also brokered the “Beijing Declaration,” a landmark agreement between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, which calls for an interim national reconciliation government focused on Gaza’s post-war reconstruction. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the importance of reinforcing confidence and steady progress despite ongoing challenges between the factions.

The evolving dynamic leaves Israel in a difficult position, balancing its strategic alliance with the United States against its significant economic ties with China, one of its largest trading partners. The aftermath of the Gaza crisis has intensified this tension, causing Israel to recalibrate its approach. The diplomatic relationship with China is marked by a subtle but noticeable drift, as the US-China geopolitical rivalry increasingly influences regional affairs and bilateral relations.

Despite these complexities, both Beijing and Tel Aviv appear committed to preserving their technological and trade links. Ambassador Xiao’s recent tours and high-level meetings underscore the pragmatic recognition on both sides of the indispensable nature of their economic cooperation, even as geopolitical pressures mount. Nonetheless, analysts warn that the fallout from the Gaza war and intensifying great power competition pose formidable challenges to sustaining and expanding the China-Israel partnership in the years ahead.

Source: Noah Wire Services