Since Hamas\u2019 Operation Al Aqsa Storm and the subsequent military assault on the Gaza Strip, the global order has come under renewed stress, as if the Russia-Ukraine war was not enough. Pursuing the maximalist agenda of eliminating Hamas from Gaza, Israel has used every sort of ground attack weapon system short of a nuclear bomb. Tel Aviv\u2019s stratagem has won unconditional support from the United States, Canada, the UK and Germany, to name a few Western nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On November 30, 2023, Beijing released a position paper, identifying itself as an advocate for peace and a proponent of the immediate cessation of hostilities. Beijing demanded a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the fighting, effective protection of \u2002civilians to prevent the displacement of Palestinians and ramping up of humanitarian assistance. It also demanded countries with influence on the parties to the conflict to jointly play \u2002a constructive role in de-escalating the crisis and formulating a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution. Though it notably denounced Washington\u2019s support for Israel, China did not repeat its mediation<\/a> offer. In April 2023, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang offered China\u2019s help to mediate between the Israelis and Palestinians, like Beijing had helped Saudi Arabia and Iran resume diplomatic ties. \u201cIt is never too late to do the right thing,\u201d reiterated<\/a> Wang Wenbin, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson. No such offer is on the table now as China stands by the Palestinian side, endorsing the sentiments in the Arab and Muslim worlds. So far, a dozen Chinese nationals have been killed, missing and injured<\/a> since Israel\u2019s war on Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the Houthis targeting maritime traffic, the primary interest of Beijing has been to continue maritime commerce with the least disruption and no attacks. China demanded<\/a> an end to the \u201cdisturbance to civilian ships,\u201d urging the \u201crelevant parties to avoid adding fuel to the fire,\u201d with Beijing disagreeing with the US-UK strikes on Houthi sites. Liu Jianchao, China\u2019s forthcoming foreign minister Director of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), travelled to Iran in December 2023, but the visit did not help lower the temperature in the Red Sea. It was perhaps not intended to quell tensions but to secure safe passage for Chinese merchant vessels. Though Saudi Arabia and Egypt reject Israeli military escalation in Gaza, they are opposed to the Houthis\u2019 destabilizing maneuvers. Restraining Tehran from turning the Red Sea into a warzone is in the interest of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n