As the ongoing 45-day US-backed Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip continue, members of the Organisation of Arab and Islamic Cooperation have accelerated their diplomatic contacts. During the Manama 2023 Dialogue Meeting, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan informed reporters that Arab and Islamic foreign ministers are scheduled to visit China on Monday. Farhan stated that their visits will strive for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the provision of humanitarian aid to the region, and a lasting resolution to the Palestinian conflict. Additionally, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the visit during the daily press conference.
It is unclear whether Turkey will be among the countries visiting China’s capital, Beijing. However, during a November 18th interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the establishment of an ‘action group’ comprised of seven countries. Fidan stated, “Various activities are being carried out.” “Islamic nations have formed an action group consisting of Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The foreign ministers of these countries will embark on diplomatic visits to various national capitals, beginning next week.”
THREE MAIN REASONS FOR VISIT TO CHINA
The members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) visiting Palestine signifies a valuable step towards achieving peace. It is evident that establishing an ‘international peace front’ against those who allow the Gaza issue to persist and normalize crimes against humanity is crucial.
It could be argued that the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation chose China as their first stop for three primary reasons.
The first reason is to help stabilize the front led by the US. China, a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the world’s second most powerful economy, competes with the US in many ways and promotes different values and systems. This inclusion reminds Washington of multipolarity and sends a message that the struggle is international rather than regional.
Also, a visit to China will indicate that the Palestinian struggle is fought in the name of humanity, not “cross or crescent”. Some European players care about this issue. He urged everyone to take action to avoid such an outcome. He urged everyone to take action to avoid such an outcome. For instance, Joseph Borell, the High Representative of the European Union, mentioned the danger of a clash of civilizations in his speech at the EU ambassadors’ yearly conference. He urged everyone to take action to avoid such an outcome.
The third motive for visiting China is due to its willingness to engage in a more intense diplomatic battle, both historically and contemporarily. China’s stance on the Palestinian cause stems from its anti-colonialist foundation. In 1988, China became the first nation outside of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to acknowledge Palestine, and its unwavering position has persisted from founding leader Mao Zedong to Jiang Zemin. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Arab leaders last year and stressed that the Palestinian cause is not related to trade.
China’s stance on the Palestinian issue stems from its recent involvement in the Middle East. Although the reasons behind Beijing’s growing relations with Middle Eastern nations require further examination, it is apparent that the region has warmly received China’s leadership. China’s role in facilitating the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran through the Global Security Initiative demonstrates its competence in conflict resolution. This normalization has not only the potential to turn a new page in Gulf-Iran relations, but it has also allowed the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran to have a more than four-hour telephone conversation regarding Palestine for the first time in several years.
Since the start of the events on October 7th, China has thwarted the creation of an international campaign that puts the Palestinian cause in the “Hamas-terrorism-self-defense” category. Beijing opposes this classification, claiming that the crisis did not commence on October 7th and the Palestinian people, who have been historically wronged, deserve an autonomous and self-determining state. The United States and Israeli authorities have both expressed dissatisfaction with China’s stance. China’s Middle East Special Envoy, who has been touring the region to advocate for a two-state resolution, met Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a recent visit. Fidan addressed Ankara reporters and noted that China has been giving more consideration to the Middle East lately, with a significant alignment on the Palestinian matter. In summary, members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation acknowledge that their trip to China might prompt Beijing to take a more assertive stance in its rhetoric and actions.
WHAT CAN CHINA DO TO HELP THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE?
The evaluation of what China can or cannot contribute to the resolution of the Palestinian cause during their recent visit is necessary. Regrettably, China cannot achieve a normalization akin to the current détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Palestine-Israel context due to the lack of peace as an option on Israel’s agenda and the United States as the main stakeholder in the matter. During the interview, Li Shaoxian from the Research Institute for Arab Countries at Ningxia University in China stated that China cannot negotiate with a nation that refuses to pursue peace. Furthermore, China could collaborate with others to exert pressure on the US towards peace. Hosting an international conference in Beijing may be instrumental in this effort and aligns with expectations. Article 29 of the conclusions from the Extraordinary Arab Islamic Summit on November 11th proposed an international conference for a two-state solution and to end the occupation. China’s invitation to a diverse group of attendees from Asia to Latin America could potentially raise concerns in Washington. Given that the White House views China as a strategic rival, they would likely resist experiencing a loss in the eyes of Global South countries.
It may also be advantageous for China to include the matter of Israel’s purported possession of nuclear weapons in its UN statements. President Erdoğan insisted on its inclusion in Article 22 of the final text of the November 11 Summit, which reads: “To achieve a Middle East that is free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, it is recommended to convene a conference within the United Nations framework to address this issue. Additionally, China should collaborate more with the international community on providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and contributing to the city’s reconstruction efforts.”
Another action China could take is to increase cooperation with the international community on providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and rebuilding the city. Resolving the urgent reconstruction issue will also eliminate potential scenarios of Palestinian deportation.
