Last week, on February 20, the Chinese ambassador to Israel, Cai Run, published an article in the Israel Hayom newspaper, in honor of the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Dragon. The ambassador devoted most of the article to his insights regarding the Chinese economy, insights that his country is interested in “sharing with our friends in Israel,” those friends who have been fighting a cruel enemy that the ambassador and his country have not yet condemned for five months. According to the ambassador, China is a stabilizing factor in the world economy despite the “headwinds it faces,” thereby, of course, hinting at the United States and Western countries who have long been talking about reducing their dependence on China.
The ambassador addresses a number of audiences in Israel, hinting at the priorities of his administration. First, he turns to “talents” in the fields of technology and says that China invests a lot in R&D and high-tech. The ambassador then addresses the Israeli investors, to whom he tells about the high returns for foreign investments in his country and the openness to which China is committed; but he forgets to mention China’s economic difficulties and the investigations and harassment that Western companies have experienced in recent years.
As much as the ambassador’s absolute attention to economic matters is striking, the lack of discourse on other issues is even more. While Cai Run foresees a “bright future” for the relationship between the countries, he forgets the present, in which China backs the Palestinians and calls Israel’s actions “beyond self-defense” and “collective punishment.”
The ambassador’s article raises questions as to whether the Palestinians will be happy to find out that China still sees itself as a friend and an important trade partner of Israel despite unequivocal messages of support they’ve received from the Chinese leadership. This article once again proves China’s cynical approach to the Middle East—publicly it is with the Palestinians, but its main interest is economic, and therefore it will continue to prioritize its relations with Israel.
Last week, on February 20, the Chinese ambassador to Israel, Cai Run, published an article in the Israel Hayom newspaper, in honor of the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Dragon. The ambassador devoted most of the article to his insights regarding the Chinese economy, insights that his country is interested in “sharing with our friends in Israel,” those friends who have been fighting a cruel enemy that the ambassador and his country have not yet condemned for five months. According to the ambassador, China is a stabilizing factor in the world economy despite the “headwinds it faces,” thereby, of course, hinting at the United States and Western countries who have long been talking about reducing their dependence on China.
The ambassador addresses a number of audiences in Israel, hinting at the priorities of his administration. First, he turns to “talents” in the fields of technology and says that China invests a lot in R&D and high-tech. The ambassador then addresses the Israeli investors, to whom he tells about the high returns for foreign investments in his country and the openness to which China is committed; but he forgets to mention China’s economic difficulties and the investigations and harassment that Western companies have experienced in recent years.
As much as the ambassador’s absolute attention to economic matters is striking, the lack of discourse on other issues is even more. While Cai Run foresees a “bright future” for the relationship between the countries, he forgets the present, in which China backs the Palestinians and calls Israel’s actions “beyond self-defense” and “collective punishment.”
The ambassador’s article raises questions as to whether the Palestinians will be happy to find out that China still sees itself as a friend and an important trade partner of Israel despite unequivocal messages of support they’ve received from the Chinese leadership. This article once again proves China’s cynical approach to the Middle East—publicly it is with the Palestinians, but its main interest is economic, and therefore it will continue to prioritize its relations with Israel.