Gaza war: backlash over US support for Israel as China makes ‘public relations gain’
- Beijing has doubled down on its pro-Palestinian stance while Washington is under pressure over its policy of arming Israel
- But China ‘can hardly play the role of peacemaker’ given its modest political influence in the region, according to observer
As the US faces a growing diplomatic backlash over its support for Israel amid a mounting death toll in Gaza, China is benefiting from its reputational damage, observers say.
As the UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus on the Palestinian application for full United Nations membership – it was opposed by five nations, including a veto by the US – China on Thursday reaffirmed its support for the bid, and the Palestinian cause.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was a reminder that “the only way to end the vicious cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts is to fully implement the two-state solution, establish an independent state of Palestine and redress the historical injustice long suffered by the Palestinians”.
Observers say China appears to be gaining diplomatically from this stance.