Why China Is So Eager to Play Mediator Between Palestine and Israel
VICE
…“China still has this residue sympathy, at least at the official level, for Palestine,” said Guy Burton, an expert on China’s relations with the Middle East from the Brussels School of Governance. “But also yes, what was initially an arms-related commercial relationship with Israel has expanded. If you look solely on the economic basis, Israel offers a lot more to the Chinese than Palestine does.”
…Burton, with the Brussels School of Governance, said actual engagement in the conflict could damage China’s economic relations with Israel and add fuel to the confrontation between China and the U.S., which would not be in Beijing’s interest given the Middle East is not on top of its foreign policy priority.
