Senator Chuck Schumer has recently called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to support Israel. This call comes amidst rising scrutiny of China’s role in the Middle East, and as China issues a warning that the relationship between the US and China will determine the future of humanity.
Recent tensions have caused the United States and China to butt heads on multiple issues impacting the world. Among the issues is China’s support for Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and its refusal to recognize Palestine as an independent state. While recognizing China’s “important role in the Middle East,” Schumer argued that the Chinese President must act on moral grounds and support Israel.
Schumer referenced the Sino-US relations when he said that it was in China’s interest to stand with the United States and support a “complete and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians”. He concluded by urging China to use its influence to support Israel and reach a two-state solution to the conflict.
Considering China’s growing global influence, it is unsurprising that the Chinese government is choosing to act cautiously. Beyond former president Donald Trump’s trade sanctions, President Joe Biden’s administration has warned that it will continue to hold Beijing accountable for its human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, in addition to its heavy hand in squashing dissent.
At the same time, China insists that US-Sino relations will have critical implications for the future of humanity. Foreign minister Wang Yi has warned that the world will be affected if the two countries cooperate, and that they will both benefit from stable Sino-US relations.
China’s power and influence is undeniable, and its key role in the Middle East cannot be ignored. While it remains to be seen how fortunately they will manage the region’s affairs, it is imperative that China works towards establishing a lasting peace in the Middle East. This can best be achieved by working with the United States and supporting Israel, as Senator Schumer has called for. Ultimately, it is up to the Chinese President to choose which path to take and determine the future of humanity.