China throws weight behind Pakistan and Iran amid rising regional tensions

HONG KONG: China purports to be a neutral and responsible force for good on the international stage, but its allegiances are as parochial as those of any other nation. This is demonstrated by its unstinting support for friends like Pakistan and Iran as they do battle with India and Israel, respectively.

As Israel and Iran traded violent blows from 13 June onwards, China's top diplomat Wang Yi discussed the situation with his counterpart in Tehran the very next day. A press release issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sayyid Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on how "Israel's recent brazen attack on Iran caused casualties among Iranian military personnel and civilians, especially the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, which seriously violated international law. The military operation by the Israeli side is highly dangerous and may drag the entire region into all-out war."

According to the official Chinese press release, "Araghchi thanked China for its consistent understanding and support of Iran's position and expressed confidence that China will play an even more important role in promoting regional peace and stability."

If such comments did not reveal which side Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party are supporting, the statement went on to say, "China explicitly condemns Israel's violation of Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and firmly opposes the reckless attacks targeting Iranian officials and causing civilian casualties. China supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, defending its legitimate rights and interests, and ensuring the safety of its people. Israel's actions seriously violate the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic norms governing international relations."

Yet again, China has picked a side. On this occasion, it has come down firmly on the side of a nation that spreads and exports violent Islamic terrorism and extremism. Such comments also represent another nail in the coffin of Israel-China relations.

Just as it has done with its support for Russia and Tsar Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, China's duplicitous diplomatic stance is untenable. Why did Beijing refuse to say the same things when Russia gravely violated Ukraine's "sovereignty, security and territorial integrity"?

China has been unstinting in its support of Palestine too. It was one of the first countries to support the Palestine National Liberation Movement, otherwise known as Fatah. In May 1965, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) established an office in Beijing, and China announced its recognition of the state of Palestine in November 1988.

It is alleged that Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military wing leader who planned the 7 October 2023 attacks against Israel, and who was later killed, had studied artillery and rocketry in the People's Liberation Army General Armament Department's Ordnance Engineering College in 1996. There are other unverified allegations that PLA military advisors and tunnel engineers helped Hamas build its 350-mile tunnel network under Gaza.

Beijing never issued any condemnation of the Hamas attack in October 2023.

Israel's military has uncovered large stockpiles of Chinese-manufactured weapons in Gaza. However, China's defense ministry hit back saying it "never provided any weapons" to conflict areas. Colonel Wu Qian, the Ministry of National Defense spokesman, said in January 2024: "It needs to be emphasized that China has always adopted a prudent and responsible attitude when it comes to arms export, and strictly follows the three principles of arms exports." (ANI)

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