中文
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., November 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
By Bobby Naderi
On November 29, China presented the United Nations Security Council with a four-point plan for Middle East peace. Chairing the high-level meeting in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told the council that dialogue and negotiation is the best way to save lives.
"We should revitalize the political prospects of the two-state solution with stronger determination. The lack of a Palestinian state is the crux of the repeated turbulence in the Palestinian-Israeli situation," Wang told the council.
In fairness, none of this is a secret. The China-brokered Saudi-Iran rapprochement in March was a major diplomatic breakthrough after years of mutual animosity between the two countries. It reflects Beijing's growing leverage and influence in the Middle East.
If the truth be told, China also has what it takes to play a constructive role in Israeli-Palestinian political and security matters. Wang took a longer historical perspective in this respect.
"Israel has long been an independent state and the Jews are no longer without a home," he told the UN Security Council meeting, adding "but the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence and their right of return, has long been ignored. Fairness and justice on the Palestinian question lies in the two-state solution. This is irreplaceable."
On two of his other points, Wang told the council that the world should "work for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire with the greatest urgency." He also appealed for the Security Council to "shoulder its responsibility on major issues of war and peace and life and death … in light of the development on the ground, take further action promptly."
A staunch advocate for peace
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a stormy drama that has lasted decades, has captivated the world's attention in recent weeks. In the midst of the ongoing turmoil and sorrow in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, China has emerged as a staunch advocate for peace, emphasizing the importance of a resolution and pushing the appeal for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
This diplomatic drive is being led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang's position, which he underlined in talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is consistent with Beijing's ideals of peace, human conscience, and commitment to international law.
The essence of China's position is built on three critical pillars: first, a plea to prevent any resumption of hostilities, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire to forestall further humanitarian tragedies, and the release of hostages.
Second, there is an urgent need to ensure unrestricted passage to humanitarian supplies into Gaza, which is a vital lifeline for its embattled residents. Third, a resolute call to restart the stalled two-state solution process, and of course recognizing its critical relevance in ensuring comprehensive and long-term peace in the volatile region.
Wang's proposals, timed to coincide with a temporary truce between Palestine and Israel, serve as a sign of hope. They highlight the critical concerns while setting the groundwork for a long-term solution, which demonstrated China's genuine desire to find a viable solution despite the chaos.
The widening schism
Unfortunately, despite international efforts to extend the truce, concerns remain as to its long-term viability. Israel's refusal to discontinue military operations following the prolonging of the ceasefire casts a pall over the prospects for long-term peace. The unshakable determination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue military operations has complicated the path to peace.
China's proactive role in lobbying for a long-term ceasefire and revitalizing the two-state solution demonstrates its dedication to world stability. The unsolved war is not only creating a humanitarian disaster, but it also highlights the critical necessity for coordinated international efforts of humanitarian assistance.
Another layer is developing amid this complex landscape: the widening schism between Israel and the U.S. over the likelihood of a Palestinian state. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration initially supported a two-state solution, but rising pressures have caused a schism with Israel's position.
As the crisis worsens, Biden's shift in support for Israel shows a broader strategy aimed at aligning with those against peace and limiting China's positive influence in the region. These shifting dynamics, with its fawning media acolytes, highlight the complex geopolitics entwined with the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Unfortunately, it's still all downhill from there.
Contrary to the bombast flowing from Washington and the Western corporate media, China's proactive diplomacy, founded on peace ideals and adherence to international law, still provides a ray of hope in an otherwise intractable war. Wang's unflinching support for a lasting ceasefire and a two-state solution at the recent UN Security Council meeting provides an opportunity for fresh international cooperation to address this long-standing and deeply ingrained bloodshed.
In a world rife with war and strife, China's steadfast stance serves as a reminder of the importance of global solidarity in the quest for Middle East peace and stability through dialogue and political means.
Bobby Naderi, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a London-based journalist, guest contributor in print, radio and television, and documentary filmmaker.
