Israel-Gaza war: China’s top diplomat to make 1 more UN Security Council peace push

Top diplomat Wang Yi will chair a council meeting in the final days of the country’s rotating presidency

It could be a chance for Beijing to expand on its position in the conflict but there are doubts it will have an impact on the ground, observers say

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China’s top diplomat will host a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza. Photo: TNS

Published: 7:17pm, 28 Nov 2023Updated: 2:34pm, 4 Dec 2023

China could push for an extended truce in the Israel-Gaza conflict when Beijing’s top diplomat chairs a United Nations Security Council meeting this week, according to analysts.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will head to New York to host a meeting on the war on Wednesday, as Beijing gives a last push to its peacemaking efforts before its monthly presidency ends the next day.

Beijing has described the meeting as “high level” but it is not clear who else will be attending.

Earlier this month, Beijing was the first permanent member of the council to host an Arab and Islamic delegation trying to rally the international community to help resolve the conflict.

As holder of the council’s rotating presidency, China also oversaw the adoption of a resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting.

But it could not bridge division among members over common language on a ceasefire and condemnation of Hamas.