By: Alaa Aldeek [1] & Ding Jun [2].
(Exclusively for al-Zaytouna Centre).
The world today is witnessing severe political crises represented by wars, conflicts, and this is in conjunction with the deterioration of the economic, social and cultural conditions, as well as the threat to international peace & security, and the loss of the international system of its effective role in protecting the rights and sovereignty of states.
China remains resolute in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, committed to promote a human society with a common future, and China will remain committed to the common values of all mankind. China is following the implementation of the principles of the three initiatives: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the global civilization initiative. At the same time, China advocates building a fair and orderly multipolar world and economic globalization with universal benefit and inclusiveness for all. Therefore, China will deepen reforms and actively participate in leading the reform and development of the global governance system.
This has always been emphasized by China in all the forums it holds or participates in, both at the internal and external level. For example, The CPC Central Committee adopted a resolution on deepening China’s comprehensive reform and advanced modernization at the third plenary session of the twentieth CPC Central Committee on July 18, 2024. This comes in line with the implementation of the strategic plans that were developed at the twentieth National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October 2022. Therefore, China has not abandoned its commitments to achieve peaceful development in diplomatic work towards all without exception through the success of reform and opening-up policies, and therefore China is resolute in pursuing an independent foreign policy to promote peace and stability to build one common future for all mankind.
And speaking about the serious developments taking place in the Palestinian issue as a result of the continuation of the open Israeli war on the Palestinian people with the aim of liquidating their case since 7 October 2024, China stands firm and resolute in halting the war, lifting the blockade, introducing humanitarian and relief assistance, protecting civilians, and earnestly striving to convene a fair, multilateral and more objective international peace conference to resolve the Palestinian issue in accordance with a specific timetable and within the framework of international law and relevant resolutions.
Therefore, China’s diplomatic work towards the Palestinian issue and that is happening in the Arab region is effective and continuous, and the Arab region and the Palestinian issue have become one of the most important agendas and arms in Chinese foreign policy, not out of courtesy but bearing moral and legal responsibility for that is happening towards the Palestinian people, as well as preserving the sovereignty of states from absurdity, ruin and instability in order to protect people and their vital interests.
There is no doubt that such diplomacy faces challenges that make it difficult to achieve its goals in the required sense of reality. The most important of these challenges is the lack of commitment by the United States and Israel to international law and resolutions of international legitimacy towards resolving the Palestinian issue and all outstanding Arab issues. Because China does not want to work alone in the region or in the international system, but on the contrary, it wants a multilateral international system that seriously seeks to respect the sovereignty and rights of states in accordance with international law and international legitimacy, and thus resolve all crises through consultation, understanding, dialogue and joint action. For example, China supports the BRICS group and therefore does not want to make alliances like others, but rather to create an international multilateral framework that does not contradict the international system, but complements it in order to protect international security and peace, and thus achieve benefit and common destiny.
Also, one of the most prominent obstacles is that the international community is unable to oblige Israel to stop the war on the Palestinians and Lebanon, as well as its inability to stop the American veto on the Palestinian issue and Arab issues in general. This would threaten the security, stability and peace in the region and the world as a whole. Therefore, the success of Chinese efforts to achieve peace and development in the region may be minimal in light of these serious developments and conflicts, especially that America and its allies are still sending weapons and ammunition to the region in support of Israel and their allies, without any concern for the fate and future of people and countries, and this is a clear threat to international security and peace.
In addition, there is no unified Arab position towards resolving the fateful issues in the region, especially the Palestinian issue. Some support the right of people to resist restoring rights, others believe that Israel has the right to normalize its relations with Arab countries first without linking it to a radical solution to the Palestinian issue, and therefore peace is achieved through coexistence and free trade. It should be recalled that the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Arabs at the Beirut Summit in 2002 to resolve the Palestinian issue and build a comprehensive peace with Israel, stipulates that the establishment of normal relations with Israel is conditional on the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of the Fourth of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. This did not happen, and the relationship between Israel and some Arab countries has been normalized since 2018.
Moreover, the internal Palestinian situation and the continued state of division between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and in light of the continuation of the Israeli war on the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, is unstable, and the Palestinian political system is divided, and there is an absence of a Palestinian factional consensus to get out of the current situation, and this would weaken international efforts, foremost of which are Chinese efforts to bring more support to the Palestinian case at the regional and international levels. Despite China’s invitation to the Palestinian parties to Beijing to host a national reconciliation dialogue between all Palestinian frameworks in July 2024, and the signing of the Palestinian national reconciliation agreement, the Beijing declaration in this regard has not yet been implemented by the Palestinians.
This confirms that China’s diplomatic work towards the Palestinian issue and the Arab region is effective, and that China is seriously seeking to stop the war on the Palestinian people, provide humanitarian and relief assistance, protect civilians, lift the blockade, and seek a just and comprehensive solution to the issue. As well as achieving stability in the countries of the region and ending crises and internal conflicts between people to preserve the sovereignty of states and achieve security and peace in the region. And this is in line with China’s orientations, ideas and initiatives to achieve peaceful development through peace based on respect for the sovereignty of states, non-aggression against them and their right to self-determination, and this is in line with the charter and rules of the United Nations within the framework of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy.
This was confirmed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Beijing meeting in front of the Palestinian factions in July 2024, where he said: “the Palestinian issue is the essence of the Middle East issue, and China has no selfish interest in the Palestinian issue, what we care about is morality, and what we call for is justice, so the Palestinian issue, which has lasted for more than 7 decades without a solution, has remained a touchstone of international justice and fairness, conscience and morality of mankind”. This is China’s clear and firm position on the Palestinian issue.
Accordingly, China is a force of peace to build a common future, because China and its effective diplomacy are based on wisdom and human philosophy, so human and its essence and joint work with others is one of the most important goals to achieve stability and peace among people. China raises the banner of peace and common destiny for the benefit of mankind, and China wants to invite others to work together to achieve this, and therefore it does not want to exclude anyone and does not want to take the role and status of anyone. Chinese culture is a culture of peace and stability for the Chinese and others, so China’s opening up and modernization came to emphasize the common benefit and peace and development are the supreme goal of all. Therefore, the success of this requires cooperation and joint action.
Overall, there is an urgent need for China’s presence in the Middle East, without China the Middle East will become worse. And what is happening in Palestine and Lebanon today, and the instability in the Arab region is due to the challenges and obstacles that stand in the way of achieving the goals of Chinese diplomacy towards resolving the Palestinian issue and all the issues of the region. The current reality shows that the American-Israeli policies towards Palestine and the region are unfair, and the achievement of peace and stability is unattainable because of these policies. Therefore, China advocates peace as a force for good and strives to coordinate regional and international efforts in order to safeguard common security and peace to achieve the common destiny of all mankind.
The absence of a solution to the Palestinian issue and the instability of the Arab countries and the region show that we need the wisdom and philosophy of Chinese diplomacy in order to protect international peace and security, and thus preserve people’s lives to live in good peaceful conditions and environment. The dilemma is not in the goals and aspirations of Chinese diplomatic work, but in the circumstances and challenges that stand in the way of the success of those goals and aspirations for others.
Therefore, the situation in Palestine and the region will be worsen as long as some policies do not care about what is happening towards people and states, and do not pay attention to the principles of international and humanitarian law, the situation will remain the same and will continue as long as there is a lack of cooperation, coordination, understanding and joint action between China and some other international powers that support unilateralism at the expense of multilateralism and the United Nations system and charter. Thus, it will be the vulnerable people and countries who will pay the price of survival and defend themselves for a better future in the absence of an international incubator that will bring them peace, stability and development like other people.
China has tried and is trying, but some forces and realistic challenges do not help China to achieve peace, and therefore the situation will remain complicated by the absence of cooperation and interaction by some with Chinese efforts to achieve peace and common destiny. The reality and its consequences are due to the insistence of some powers on their rejection of achieving a just and comprehensive radical peace for the Palestinian issue within the framework of the system and international cooperation.
[1] A researcher specializing in Chinese affairs and international relations, currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, School of International relations & Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University.
[2] Director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Shanghai International Studies University.
Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations, 16/11/2024
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