Wang Yi Calls for Reversal of West Bank Settlements
During the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Israel must stop and reverse the “forced establishment” of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In his statement, the Chinese Foreign Minister referred to the Palestinian question as the greatest historical injustice of this century and described the two-state solution as the correct path to resolving the conflict. He also called for the immediate and complete opening of the Gaza Strip to humanitarian aid. The meeting follows talks between Wang Yi and the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, on Thursday.
Beijing Seeks to Position Itself as an Alternative to Washington
With China’s clear stance, Beijing is pursuing three objectives. Firstly, by criticising Israel, China aligns with the interests of its strategic partner Iran. Second, China is positioning itself as an alternative leader on this issue to the US. In doing so, China is articulating the interests of the Global South, the majority of which is critical of Israel, and is assuming the role of moral superiority that has long been held by the West. Finally, Beijing is signalling its willingness to engage diplomatically and shape the regional order. However, while Beijing benefits from its role as an alternative to Washington, its actual influence over the conflicting parties remains limited.
