This article reviews and analyzes trends in trade between Israel and China in 2024, set against the backdrop of the Swords of Iron war and the ongoing trade war. Three key developments stand out compared to 2023. First, imports from China rose approximately 20% in 2024, following an 18% drop from 2022 to 2023. Israel continues to import more goods from China than from any other country, and in 2024, about 15% of all goods imported to Israel came from China. Second, Israeli exports to China continued to decline. In 2024, Israeli...
China is undertaking efforts to influence the Israeli public through China Radio International (CRI), embassy activities that include journalist delegations and the publication of articles and interviews in Israeli media, and collaborations with local media outlets. While China works to promote narratives favorable to its global image, it is important that the public be able to distinguish between legitimate influence efforts and covert operations aimed at shaping public consciousness. Therefore, the Israeli media should examine the...
In May 2024, Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, was inaugurated. Since then, tensions around Taiwan have continued to escalate, including stronger rhetoric by all parties, increased US arms sales to Taiwan, legislative moves in the US Congress targeting China, and, of course, military threats by China. In early December 2024, tensions peaked when China conducted significant naval and aerial military activities around Taiwan without any prior announcement of an official exercise. Reports from Taiwan indicated that China’s...
Food security is one of the top strategic priorities for the Chinese government, with President Xi Jinping setting a goal of self-reliance in food production through the use of advanced and sustainable technologies. However, significant challenges stand between this vision and reality, including shrinking agricultural land, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and outdated technologies. These challenges present an opportunity for Israel to expand cooperation with China in the fields of agriculture, water resources, and...
The Arctic is a key battleground in the great power competition, with China challenging US and Russian dominance. Claiming “near-Arctic state” status, China seeks access to resources and the Northern Sea Route (NSR) through its Polar Silk Road. Its investments in Arctic infrastructure face resistance, particularly from Western nations. Meanwhile, the involvement of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in scientific research has raised security concerns. As the Arctic Council weakens, China aims to reshape regional governance,...
The global race for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy is accelerating, and China’s latest move—the launch of the DeepSeek AI model—has sent shockwaves around the world. The technology industry, stock markets, academia, and governments are all evaluating whether this Chinese engineering breakthrough could also shift the geopolitical balance. In light of the challenges facing Israel’s National AI Program, the true efficiency and cost of this new Chinese model are examined against the officially published figures. The key takeaway...
Given the particularly harsh rhetoric of Malaysia’s prime minister toward Israel since October 7, as well as his refusal to condemn Hamas’s attack and even referring to its members as “freedom fighters,” the responses given in a recent interview acknowledging Israel’s right to exist and to self-defense were surprising. This article examines whether this was an isolated incident, a public relations maneuver in the global arena, a desire for involvement in the Middle East, or perhaps an early sign of a shifting trend.
The success of the rebel forces in Syria in bringing about the fall of Assad’s regime was seen as evidence that China had suffered yet another setback to its policy in the Middle East. Similarly, Israel’s military successes in its war against the pro-Iranian “Axis of Resistance”—Hamas, Hezbollah, and in its confrontation with Iran itself in October—were portrayed as challenges to China’s regional policy. Some commentators argued that the Axis served as an anchor for China to expand its political and diplomatic influence in the Middle...
The 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, the leading international aviation and aerospace event, served as a prominent platform for showcasing China’s military and technological capabilities. Held in November in southern China, this year’s exhibition set records for participation, featuring over 1,000 companies from 49 countries, underscoring China’s global ambitions. In addition to advanced weapon systems, such as directed energy weapons, autonomous robots, and stealth warplanes, the event highlighted China’s significant advancements in civilian...
On January 20, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in against the backdrop of inter-power competition shaping American foreign policy. The president has announced his cabinet nominees, including those who have previously taken hawkish stances toward China, alongside individuals with significant commercial interests in the country. It appears that Trump is torn between the desire to “make China pay,” given his belief that trade relations between the superpowers are unfair, and his open admiration for Chinese President Xi...
The summit of the leaders of BRICS member states held in October 2024 in Kazan, Russia, with the participation of the organization’s new members—UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia—highlighted a strategy characteristic of the Cold War era: non-alignment with a global superpower. This approach persists despite the aspirations of Russia and China to transform BRICS into an alternative to the Western-led global order. Thus, the organization is shaping itself as a mechanism for cooperation but not for coordination or the advancement of a...
Over the past year, Beijing has taken a distinctly anti-Israel stance; however, recent official statements from China have included messages perceived as more positive toward Israel. These statements have included calls to consider Israel’s security interests alongside refraining from directly condemning Israel’s ground maneuvers in Lebanon, the assassination of Nasrallah, and even its direct attacks on Iran. Nonetheless, the change in Chinese rhetoric is minimal and does not necessarily indicate a shift in Beijing’s policy toward...
