China, Jerusalem and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE
On the surface, the Chinese reaction to the US decision to effectively recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was clear. Following President Trump’s announcement to transfer the US embassy to the Holy City on December 6, 2017.[1] Several days later, China voted with every other member on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to uphold the international consensus and previous UN decisions on Jerusalem. But by being a permanent member on the UNSC, the US voted against, and the resolution failed.[2] In response the resolution was debated and voted upon at the UN General Assembly on December 21. Despite US threats to cut aid to those countries which voted against it, an overwhelming majority of members, including China, voted (128-9, with 35 abstentions) for a resolution demanding that the United States withdraw its December 6 declaration on Jerusalem.[3]
By going against world opinion, the US arguably looked out of step in relation to the conflict. By contrast, China’s alignment with international public opinion gave it the aura of a potential mediator — a role that it had offered to play last July when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was in Beijing.[4] During that visit, Chinese leaders had offered to host trilateral talks with Israelis and Palestinians, in order to restart negotiations.[5]
