India
During the first leg of his regional tour, Zhai Jun arrived in Qatar on Thursday, where he reconfirmed China’s alignment with Moscow in their joint efforts to defuse the escalating Gaza situation.
After he met with Bogdanov in Doha, Zhai Jun stated, “China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue.” He also emphasized, “The fundamental reason for the current situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is that the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people have not been guaranteed.”
The recent escalation in the conflict dates back to October 7 when Hamas militants launched an incursion into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of at least 1,400 lives. In response, Israel initiated a series of airstrikes, imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip, affecting its 2.3 million inhabitants.
Notably, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while condemning actions harming civilians without naming Hamas terrorists, asserted that “Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence.”
The crisis has also underscored the divergence between China and Russia on one side and the United States on the other. President Joe Biden announced his intent to seek additional funding, estimated to be in the billions, to support Israel in its confrontation with Hamas terrorists.
Russia, with diplomatic links to Iran, the Hamas militant group, major Arab nations, and both Palestinians and Israelis, has consistently argued that the United States and Western nations have disregarded the need for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
A humanitarian ceasefire resolution put forward by Brazil at the U.N. Security Council failed to pass on Wednesday, with the United States casting a veto. Nonetheless, twelve other council members voted in favour, while Russia and Britain abstained. Historically, the United States has shielded its ally Israel from Security Council actions.
In response to this outcome, a spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry expressed deep disappointment, saying, “China is deeply disappointed at the U.S. blocking the Security Council resolution.”
A separate Russian-drafted resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire also failed to secure approval on Monday.
An editorial in China’s nationalist tabloid, the Global Times, posited that the biased stance of the United States is one of the root causes of the protracted Palestine issue and serves as an accelerant when conflicts erupt.
In Qatar, Zhai Jun affirmed that China stands ready to engage in continuous communication and coordination with Russia to contribute to the pacification of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
The tiny Gulf nation of Qatar has been a crucial hub for foreign diplomats seeking to mediate in the Israel-Gaza conflict, with direct channels of communication to Hamas terrorists, which has maintained a political office in Doha for over a decade.
A week ago, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Doha during his Middle East tour and conveyed to the Qatari Prime Minister that Washington is actively working to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. He also urged Israel to take all possible precautions to prevent harm to civilians in the ongoing conflict.
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