Should China support Israel or Palestine?

Question

Which side makes more political sense? I just curious what westerners think thanks

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

The decision has already been made - to the extent that China has a dog in that hunt, it backs Iran - and thus the Palestinians. This not being a matter of morals but of cold eyed ruthless strategic calculation. China having quietly signed a treaty of mutual cooperation with Iran a couple of months ago and thereby by default sided with the Palestinian cause.

The object of the game here is to put pressure on the Arab states - as suppliers of oil to an energy dependent Chinese economy - and on the United States as China's strategic rival. Thus by default China backs the Palestinians. Though the Chinese do not care a fig for the Palestinian cause - and insofar as that cause has become not nationalist, but Islamist may even be faintly hostile to it. (China, it being recalled, having a VERY bad relationship with - and is indeed committing genocide against - its' Uighur population, which is Muslim.)

Palestinian national identity is relatively thin gruel and why, in fact, it has become less of a force in the Middle East. Indeed, it is why the Palestinian cause is now led mostly by pan-Islamist forces - see also HAMAS. Pan-Islam being a forced that defines identity not in national terms but in religious ones.

The further irony being that after the Palestinian nationalists supported Iraq against Kuwait in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, the Arab states began to abandon the Palestinian cause. Such today that the principle benefactor of the Sunni Muslim Palestinian Arabs is Shiite Muslim Persian Iran.

Thus today, the current fireworks in the Middle East is more deceptive than not. The Palestinian cause - as a nationalist cause - is largely dead. Being more akin to a civil rights movement than a nationalist cause. The Arab states have largely abandon it in favor of peace with Israel as a counterweight to Iran.

The Palestinians, never having had a deep sense of national identity, are recurring to a more general sense of Arab and Muslim identity. In this the Iranians are backing them largely as a way to pressure their Arab rivals - particularly Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, the latter two of which already have peace treaties with Israel.

Suffice to add that if Saudi Arabia - keeper of the Muslim Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina - were to make peace with Israel, it would likely split the Muslim world wide open. Particularly along the Sunni/Shiite divide but even within Sunni Islam.

In a nutshell, this is less about Palestinian national identity - which is fading - than it is about Iran's conflict with the Sunni Arab world. The predominantly Sunni Muslim Arab Palestinians finding themselves in an alliance of convenience with Iran, and in effect being Iran's catspaw. It being added that unless things get wildly out of hand, the Arabs are apt to sit on their hands and let Israel and Iran settle the matter over the Palestinian's heads.

China really has no stake in this particular conflict beyond using it as an indirect lever to get cheaper oil from the Arab states, and pressuring the United States. The latter benefiting from the de facto alliance between the Arab states and Israel.

The question then is problematic. Who OUGHT the Chinese support. That is a complicated moral question and morals seldom play a part in the international arena. Whom they do support is the Palestinians, but only insofar as that is a function of their support for Iran as a cudgel against the USA and - in a different way - the Arab states.

It being well to remember that an iron rule of the international arena is, as Lord Palmerston said, "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." This China does with ruthless brutality.

NathanDavis · Accepted Answer

China has to stay away, that's what makes political sense to them.

DaisyM23 · Accepted Answer

I personally think Israel but China could go either way. America is supporting israel so if west supports israel, china might follow along the lines of the UN or whatever. However, china is the biggest competition to america so they could help palestine, but then they have their concentration camps for muslims in china so I think that would be the biggest hypocrisy. They are very likely to be neutral, at least on the outside, because israel is more debated amongst americans and Europe but there is the oil question so...

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I’m Chinese and I support both and neither because the bible says not to interfere in somebody’s else’s quarrel or take sides.

Alexandrubaschet08 · Answer

China should be neutral, is communist, had no history in that region, non of the side is theyr religion so that will be the best decision.

John_Doesnt · Answer

Both countries are awful and we should ignore everything going on over there.

Anonymous · Answer

I dont think China does have any time to look what’s happening up in other countries

Anonymous · Answer

I can't see them supporting Israel but it would be smart for them to stay neutral

Anonymous · Answer

Fuck China and every Chinese troll that supports China.

NotARobberYet · Answer

Palestine, which is what China has been doing.

Iron_Man · Answer

China doesn’t need to get involved

JamieLoves · Answer

Fuck’n the CCP!

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