The latest tour of the Middle East by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proved to be the country’s greater aspirations in the region.
Observers believe that Wang’s willingness to host Palestinian peace talks was not only a warning to the US, but also a sign of Beijing’s desire to get directly involved in the Middle East’s challenges.
China has historically held a low role in Middle East developments, according to analysts. However, in recent years, as part of its search for markets, money, and political clout, it has attempted to take a more active role.
Though Israel has yet to respond to the proposal, leaders on Palestinian side have shown open arms in regard with it. Israel most commonly takes negative position about any negotiation including both sides on the same level.
Chinese political and economic analysts assert that Wang’s visit to six countries in the region, which included stops in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, shows China’s active involvement in its affairs.
The Middle East, as well as Beijing, which is sharply reliant on energy resources of the region, can benefit from China’s efforts to foster stability in the region.
“In comparison to the United States, which is withdrawing from the Middle East while it gains oil self-sufficiency,” a Chinese analyst said.
Einar Tangen went on to say that his country does not tend to use its ideology in foreign policy matters, and that all that matters to it is trading benefits and improvement of societal life.
“China argues that the United States has a vital role to play in the Middle East’s fractured state as a result of its endless conflicts. Afghanistan was the start, Iraq was a big concern, and after that, insurgency and extremism were on the rise.”
It is believed that Chinese officials want to use their economic might to gain strategic privileges in both the Far East and the Middle East. China’s initiative with Iran, Israel, and the Palestine shows that the country is looking for ways to expand its position international ties.
This program may face various obstacles, including Israel’s response and whether it has anything to give at this point. The Chinese won’t put pressure on Israel to make big concessions to Palestinians in order to keep the peace process alive.
China does not mean to improve the present situation; rather, it needs to be a part of the region’s future, and it will not leave it entirely in the hands of the Washington or Moscow.
China has hosted senior authorities of both Israel and Palestine in a 2017 trilateral conference. The conference included senior Palestinian Authority officials as well as a former Israeli deputy Knesset speaker.
In 2013, Beijing proposed a peace plan for Israel and Palestine, according to which the formation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel on a four-point base would be realized.
During a state trip to Israel in 2018, China’s vice president met with Rami Hamdallah, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister in Ramallah, West Bank. The Palestinian side called for greater Chinese participation in any potential peace process.
Despite being a member of the Security Council, China has traditionally played a marginal role in peace negotiations, mostly dominated by the United States. the country is not a member of the Middle East Quartet, a community of nations and organizations tasked with mediating the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The replacement of china the trader with china the mediator is the mentality of the world, however bizarre and weird, might prove to be a key factor in resolving many of the long intricate disputes of the world; Palestine issue on the top.
