BEIJING: China: In a significant policy shift, China has officially recognized Israel's ''right to self-defence'' in the ongoing conflict with the Palestinian terror group Hamas. This acknowledgement comes as China faces criticism for its previous stance on the conflict, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi prepares for a high-profile visit to Washington. During a telephone call on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed to his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, that every country has the right to self-defence, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and protecting civilians. This statement, as reported by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, marks a notable departure from China's previous position on the issue.


China Acknowledges Israeli Action Against Hamas


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This acknowledgement represents the first time Beijing has publicly recognized Israel's right to take action against Hamas, an organization designated as a terrorist entity by both the United States and the European Union. In a related development, China's President, Xi Jinping, recently called for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict and offered to collaborate with Egypt and other Arab nations to expedite a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue.


It's worth noting that China had refrained from condemning Hamas, even as the conflict resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, including many civilians. During a visit to Beijing, US congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pressed China to stand with Israel and denounce the attacks. Schumer had criticized Wang for not showing support for Israel during these challenging times.


In response, Israeli officials openly expressed their disappointment with China's stance. Deputy Director-General in charge of Asia-Pacific Affairs Rafi Harpaz conveyed Israel's dissatisfaction during a call with Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun, as stated in an Israeli Embassy statement from October 13.


Concerns Over Escalating Conflict


 


During Monday's call, Wang Yi reiterated China's deep concern about the escalating conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis. He expressed sadness over the significant number of civilian casualties and condemned acts that harm civilians, emphasizing China's commitment to upholding international laws.


This shift in China's position comes just ahead of Foreign Minister Wang's scheduled visit to the United States this week for high-level meetings. Wang is set to be in Washington from October 26 to October 28, where he will meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, according to senior Biden administration officials.


Ambassador Nicholas Burns, speaking in Beijing, highlighted the differing views between the U.S. and China on the Israel-Hamas conflict. President Joe Biden reaffirmed the strong support for Israel during his recent visit to the country, while China aligned itself with the Palestinian cause and refrained from condemning Hamas.


In his recent statement, Wang Yi emphasized that China's position is based on a genuine desire for a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. China does not pursue any selfish interests in the matter and sincerely hopes that the differences between Israel and Palestine can be comprehensively and fairly resolved based on the two-state solution. Wang Yi expressed support for anything that promotes peace and reconciliation between Palestine and Israel.


"China will firmly support anything that is conducive to peace and will do its best as long as it is conducive to the reconciliation between Palestine and Israel," he added. This recognition of Israel's right to self-defence by China marks a significant shift in China's stance and sets the stage for further developments in the ongoing conflict. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's upcoming visit to the United States is anticipated to be a crucial moment for discussions on the issue.