China shows support to Palestine and calls for ceasefire

Photo credits: Government of Russia

In an online address to a Brazil, Russian, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) summit on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping showed support for Palestine and condemned Israel’s “collective punishment” on the people of Gaza.

“I have emphasized on many occasions that the only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in a two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent state of Palestine,” Xi stated.

Xi also said that the “collective punishment of people in Gaza in the form of forced transfers, or water, electricity, and fuel deprivation, must stop”.

This statement comes after China’s foreign minister Wang Yi urged the international community to “take effective measures” to stop the conflict from escalating in a meeting with officials from Arab nations held in Beijing on Monday. 

This is the first public speech the Chinese President has made since the Israel-Gaza conflict started on October 7.

However, over the past month and a half, Beijing has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and a two-state solution that will establish an independent Palestinian state.

China has been seeking to expand its influence to the Middle East, a region historically dominated by the West. China is already growing its involvement by brokering deals to normalize relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

Some argue that expressing solidarity with Palestine is a move meant to allow China to dismiss allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

The conflict has also presented an opportunity for Beijing to portray itself as a more trustworthy global power than the US and a leader for those who feel they have been oppressed by the US and its allies.

Beijing’s response to the conflict stands in stark contrast to the US, a major supporter of Israel. Although Beijing has avoided attacking Washington’s response to the conflict, China’s calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid juxtaposes the US decision to vote against a ceasefire at the UN at the end of October.