By Dr Alaa Aldeek, Our Shangai-Based Expert
Preface
There has been an effectiveness of Chinese diplomacy towards resolving the Palestinian issue in all occasions and forums since the Bandung Conference in 1955, when China affirmed its rejection of foreign occupation and its support for national liberation movements aimed at self-determination. And with the aggravation of the field situation in the Middle East region, which has become a threat to security, peace & stability due to the absence of a serious solution to the Palestinian issue, which is witnessing unprecedented developments and conditions due to Israel continues its open war and unilateral actions in all the occupied Palestinian territories, Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and refusing to recognize the Palestinian rights. Therefore, China stressed the importance of the commitment of all parties, including Israel, to the rule of international law to resolve the Palestinian issue, noting that resolving the Palestinian issue is important for achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, in contrast, the absence of its solution will affect those efforts and thus threaten international security and peace.
Abstract
The study aims to shed light on the importance and development of Chinese diplomacy between theory and reality, through the connection of that diplomacy with the values and culture of Chinese characteristics, where that diplomacy was characterized by openness and cooperation in order to achieve security, peace and sustainable development for all without exception. It is noteworthy that there is a connection and harmony between the goals and principles of this diplomacy and the Chinese civilization, which is based on understanding, dialogue and exchange with the culture and civilization of others to reach a common destiny.
Therefore, China has put forward the four global initiatives, development, civilization, security and governance, with the aim of achieving integration and joint action to create a community of common destiny in the new era. Thus, it firmly stressed on respect for the sovereignty and rights of states and non-aggression or interference in their affairs, achieving equality in dealing with each other regardless of the strength, size and wealth of each state, and embodying justice, integrity and fairness by strengthening the rule of law on all without exception, and resolving disputes by peaceful means without shortage or prejudice to the rights of others.
And one of the most important features of understanding the nature of Chinese diplomacy is the clarity in the attitude between theory and practice towards supporting the solution of the Palestinian issue, and therefore the Chinese position is consistent and continuous towards resolving the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law, and China has not put forward an alternative to that, as it committed to the path of the two-state solution and supported the political process provided that justice and fairness are fully achieved towards the Palestinian rights.
Based on this, the current study indicates that Chinese diplomacy, at all stages of its development, is able to support & achieve the solution of the Palestinian issue, by putting forward many relevant effective ideas and initiatives, and adhering to a firm position to resolve the issue in all circumstances and occasions on the basis of a comprehensive and just solution. However, this requires joint action and serious responsibility on the part of other actors in the Middle East region in order to achieve international justice towards resolving the long-awaited Palestinian issue, as well as paying attention to the initiatives and goals of Chinese diplomacy to be a supportive and effective factor to re-strengthen the international system on the basis of justice and fairness.
Chinese diplomacy
There is an effectiveness of Chinese diplomacy towards supporting the solution of the Palestinian issue in all forums and in various fields since China’s recognition of the state of Palestine in 1988, knowing that it has been supporting and standing with the issue and the Palestinian people since the fifties by rejecting the occupation and advocating the self-determination of people. This diplomacy is different from all other efforts in support of truth, justice and integrity, and the reason for this it is related to the values and culture with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese culture is not aggressive or Colonial, but is associated with openness and achieving peace and development for all without exception. This is the goal of Chinese diplomacy, which seeks to achieve it through its effective affirmation of commitment to and application of the rule of international law and achieving international justice on all outstanding international issues, the most important of which is the resolution of the Palestinian issue.
The effectiveness of this diplomacy has been expressed through the presentation of many effective ideas and initiatives over the past decade and current time, which are consistent with international law and the UN Charter to resolve all issues such as the resolution of the Palestinian issue. The most important features of these initiatives are that it seeks to strengthen international relations on the basis of cooperation and joint action, and it has not been put forward as an alternative to the United Nations system, its charter and the international institutions. And also it stays away from any alliances against any party based on the principle of respecting the rights and sovereignty of states and not interfering in their affairs or assaulting them. In addition, it complies with the principles of international law and works to protect it through governance and achieve international justice in order to maintain international peace and security.
Chinese diplomacy has put forward many initiatives at the international level that are also related to solving the Palestinian issue, such as the four global initiatives, development, civilization, security and governance, the four-point initiative in 2017 and the four-point plan in 2021 to solve the Palestinian issue. These initiatives and ideas related to the resolution of the Palestinian issue stressed the importance of a peaceful path according to the two-state solution, provided that the United States and Israel should have cooperated with these calls and do not ignore the solution of the Palestinian issue, as well as abide by international law and the international will. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated the need to achieve international governance in the current international system through achieving the rule of law and international justice towards outstanding international issues, the most important of which is the Palestinian issue, stressing the importance of building a more just and equitable multilateral international system away from the unilateral system led by the United States and its allies, and therefore launched on the first of September 2025, the Global Governance Initiative.
As a result, the Chinese diplomat has sufficient awareness and wisdom to deal with sensitive issues, the most important of which is the resolution of the Palestinian issue, so China will be able to take responsibility and resolutely cooperate with international parties to achieve security, peace and stability in Palestine and the region despite the complex circumstances.
The Palestinian Issue
The Palestinian issue continues to suffer from the absence of a just and comprehensive solution in accordance with international law and resolutions of international legitimacy due to the United States’ disregard for the Palestinian rights by using its veto in international forums, as well as continued support for Israel at all levels, and its insistence on not stopping the war on Gaza despite the international consensus to achieve this. However, China has actively supported a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue for decades, and has consistently affirmed its position to resolve the Palestinian issue by realizing the right of self-determination of Palestinians through establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. Besides, it also has stressed the need for Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations, and announced its support for the New York Declaration on the two-state solution and the efforts to recognize the Palestinian state in the international arena. Moreover, it has worked with all international and regional parties resolutely to end the war on Gaza, introduce aid, lift the blockade and protect civilians, stressing that the way to do this is to get rid of the occupation and achieve international justice for the Palestinians.
It is worth mentioning that China has not stood in the way of any previous or current attempts to resolve the Palestinian issue, provided that it should be serious & it has an international consensus, regardless of the source of those attempts or efforts. For instance, China supported and welcomed the talks and peace process between the Arabs & Palestinians and the Israelis in the late eighties, and recognized the state of Palestine to support the Arab-Palestinian position and international efforts to achieve the sovereignty of Arab countries and the self-determination of the Palestinians. Furthermore, the United States submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council in March 2002 No. 1397, which stressed the need to support the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, within its security borders, as a result of the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada. So China and the rest of the member states voted on the US draft resolution, and it did not take a counter-decision because America sponsored the draft, out of respect for the international will to support efforts to achieve peace, as well as its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with international law and consensus.
Besides, the Arab summit in Beirut announced the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002, which stipulated the recognition and embodiment of the Palestinian state before the establishment of normal relations with Israel. This initiative was adopted as one of the references for resolving the Palestinian issue at the regional and international levels, and therefore China supported and welcomed this initiative and the Arab efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue. In return, the United States supported the normalization of relations between the Arab state and Israel, away from the efforts of that initiative to establish peace and stability, which has become one of the Arab, Islamic and international references for resolving the Palestinian issue.
The Palestinian issue has been undergoing unprecedented developments since the seventh of October 2023, in light of the continuation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the taking of unilateral measures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the refusal to recognize legitimate Palestinian rights, and non-compliance with international law to resolve the Palestinian issue with the active support of the United States in all forums. In contrast, Chinese diplomacy has characterized by supporting the efforts of the international community to stop the war, introducing aid and seriously seeking to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, where China stressed the need for compliance and application of international law to resolve the Palestinian issue by the United States, Israel and all relevant parties.
This confirms that Chinese diplomacy is committed to its firm and effective position to support the resolution of the Palestinian issue despite all the circumstances and the attempts to downplay the importance of those efforts and initiatives by the United States and its allies, which still refuses to cooperate with China effectively to achieve peace and stability in the region through resolving the Palestinian issue. China does not use the Palestinian issue as a tool to strengthen influence and control, achieve a special interest, or support one axis or ally against another, because Chinese diplomacy stems from values and culture with Chinese characteristics based on openness and cooperation to achieve the common destiny of all without exception.
On the other hand, the United States, Israel and their allies have been procrastinating in adhering to international law to resolve the Palestinian issue for decades, ignoring Chinese ideas, calls and initiatives to promote justice and the rule of international law to resolve the Palestinian issue, in addition to not cooperating or obeying the international consensus in this regard. This was noted at the 80th meeting of the UN General Assembly recently in New York during the two-state solution conference, which received an effective international consensus, where China and many partners and sponsoring countries announced their active support for this conference, seeking to prevent them from resolving the Palestinian issue by establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state in accordance with international law, and therefore more western countries announced their recognition of the Palestinian state on the basis of the two-state solution, but the United States, Israel and their allies opposed these steps, considering them a unilateral escalation that threatens security and peace in the region, amid escalating accusations among all parties to bear the consequences later.
Achievements
The interest of Chinese diplomacy in the Palestinian issue and considering it as one of the main axes of Chinese foreign policy in its international relations is an achievement, because China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and has extensive international relations and an active role in international organizations and institutions to protect international peace and security. In addition, China supports the institutions of the Palestinian state in various fields, and its pursuit of Palestinian internal unity through the “Beijing Declaration” in July 2024. Also China was the first country to recognize Palestine as a state, and has supported all Arab and international draft resolutions and initiatives in the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to resolve the Palestinian issue, the most important of which is the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. And one of the most important countries that firmly demanded the need to end the war on Gaza, the introduction of aid, the lifting of the blockade and the end of the occupation of the Palestinian territories in accordance with international law. Besides, China supported the two-state solution conference in New York in line with the Arab and international will, and demands that Palestine obtain full membership in the United Nations. Therefore, Chinese diplomacy is resolutely effective in supporting the resolution of the Palestinian issue despite all circumstances and obstacles.
Challenges
The solution of the Palestinian issue still faces effective challenges, the most important of which is the US ignoring the solution of the Palestinian issue through unlimited support for Israel, as well as non-cooperation with the international consensus in this regard, and content with the unilateral opinion of the leadership of the international community through the American point of view in dealing with outstanding issues, the most important of which is the Palestinian issue. In addition, Israel’s non-compliance with international law and resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, its refusal to stop the war, the introduction of aid and lifting the blockade on the Palestinians, and refusal to declare a two-state solution as well, and therefore not responding to the efforts of the international community seeking to resolve the Palestinian issue in a just, comprehensive and sustainable manner to achieve peace and stability in the region. Besides, there are some obstacles related to the European side, namely interference in the internal Palestinian affairs regarding the future and form of the system of government in Palestine, as well as imposing preconditions on Palestinian politicians that may affect the course of achieving Palestinian national unity. So this will affect the “Beijing Declaration” to achieve reconciliation and Palestinian national unity, and therefore the absence of Palestinian internal unity means the absence of governance of the Palestinian institution, and this will affect the joint efforts of China and other countries to resolve the Palestinian issue in international forums.
Conclusion
Chinese diplomacy has been resolutely and consistently effective in resolving the Palestinian issue at all international events and forums for decades. The goals and aspirations of Chinese diplomacy are in line with international law and the UN Charter to resolve the Palestinian issue. The absence of a solution to the Palestinian issue does not mean the weakness or inefficiency of Chinese diplomatic efforts towards it, but rather the absence of serious and responsible cooperation by the United States, Israel and their allies in the international system. The United States continues to support Israel and ignores the solution of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law, and uses a veto against any decision in this direction, as well as the lack of seriousness of its steps towards accepting the governance of the current international system, and thus maintaining dominance and control over this system as it deems appropriate to resolve its outstanding issues, including the Palestinian issue.
On the other hand, Chinese diplomacy has succeeded in strengthening coordination and cooperation among member states, and has reactivated international commitments to affirm the right of self-determination of the Palestinians and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, and China has supported the two-state solution conference and the efforts of countries to recognize the Palestinian state recently. In this context, Chinese diplomacy has activated the tools of political and diplomatic action through multilateral relations, thereby mobilizing international public opinion to support the path of a two-state solution and then a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with respect for the rule and principles of law and international references.
As a result, the efforts of the Chinese diplomatic mission will remain effective and continuous to enhance cooperation within the international system to be more just and equitable towards resolving the Palestinian issue, and this has been noted by the increasing international recognition of the Palestinian state and the adoption of the two-state solution conference as a path to resolve the Palestinian issue with actual measures. This gives the Palestinians and the Chinese “hope” to continue cooperation with member states to support the governance of the international system based on justice and the rule of international law, and this means achieving multilateralism and then resolving all international issues, the most important of which is the Palestinian issue. Therefore, China is able to achieve this because the wisdom of Chinese diplomacy is based on integrity, justice and respect for people’s rights.