, Columnist
China Needs to Get Off the Fence in the Middle East
Beijing is trying to have it both ways on the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is in its own strategic interests to take a clearer stand.
Frayed ties.
Photographer: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
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Until now, China’s diplomacy in the treacherous geopolitical terrain of the Middle East had generally been considered a success. Exquisite balancing skills helped China maintain friendly ties with all of the region’s key players — Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel — even though they are either rivals or foes.
The tone-deaf Chinese response to the horrifying Hamas attacks in Israel last weekend, however, has displayed none of that diplomatic dexterity. Left uncorrected, it could jeopardize China’s considerable interests in the Middle East.