Wang Huiyao

Opinion | As Israel-Gaza war drags on, China could rise as a peacemaker

With the world losing faith in the ability of other major players to come up with a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China can play a more constructive role in facilitating a peaceful outcome

China’s lack of historical baggage in the region, and its economic clout, give it an advantage as a mediator

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres attend a UN Security Council meeting on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in New York on November 29, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Wang Huiyao

Published: 5:30am, 14 Jan 2024

We are living in a more dangerous world today. The end of the Russia-Ukraine war continues to be impossible to predict and, on top of that, Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent fighting in Gaza has resulted in more than 23,000 deaths on both sides.

The latter conflict shows few signs of letting up any time soon, raising the spectre of a regional war in the Middle East. The conflict has not only engulfed Israel and the Gaza Strip but also spilled over to neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Yemen.

Given Israel’s expressed commitment to continuing its fight against Hamas, the international community has increased efforts to come together and find a workable solution that will stop the fighting.

On his fifth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of violence on October 7 last year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attempted to keep the fighting in Gaza from growing into a regional conflagration. France, Germany and the United Kingdom have also sought ways to create a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

China condemns all violence and attacks against civilians, believing that attacking civilians is wrong regardless of which side does it. Israel’s response should be more reasonable, measured and restrained.

At the Doha Forum, which took place in Qatar last month, the Centre for China and Globalisation and the Middle East Institute co-hosted a session titled “A Multilateral Dialogue on Regional Security and Diplomacy”. It brought together influential perspectives from within and outside the region which considered broad issues such as the prospects for diplomacy and conflict resolution, non-proliferation, infrastructure development and economic development.