On Thursday March 7, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Beijing’s call for a “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. “The fact that today, in the 21ste century, this unstoppable humanitarian catastrophe is a human tragedy, even more, it is a shame for civilization”Wang Yi said at a press conference in Beijing.
“We are in favor of Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations”he declared at a time when the conflict between Israel and Hamas still rages in the Palestinian enclave. “The long-standing desire of the Palestinian people to create an independent country can no longer be evaded”, he added. Although China maintains good relations with Israel, it has supported the Palestinian cause for several decades and traditionally advocates for a two-state solution.
“In the face of an unstable and complex international environment, China will resolutely be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world”also said Wang Yi, who spoke on the sidelines of the annual session of the Chinese Parliament, the main political event of the year in China, which is traditionally an opportunity for the government to present the broad outlines of its economic policy and diplomatic.
Wang Yi’s press conference comes at a time when China’s growing political influence around the world is causing widespread concern among Westerners and some of its Asian neighbors.
New incidents in the China Sea
The leaders of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia warned on Wednesday against actions that “threaten the peace” in the South China Sea, after new incidents between China and the Philippines in these disputed waters.
Chinese coast guard boats were accused Tuesday by the Philippines of harassing a flotilla of Philippine ships on a resupply mission near a disputed reef. Beijing accused Manila of deliberately trying to provoke an incident.
“We will defend our legitimate rights” in the area, Wang Yi stressed on Thursday. China claims almost all of the islands in the South China Sea. But other neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims and control several islets.
“We resolutely oppose all hegemony and intimidation and forcefully defend sovereignty, security and development interests” of China, Wang Yi also underlined, in a clear reference to Washington.
Defense of good relations with Russia
United States “blame” China “under any pretext”, affirmed the head of Chinese diplomacy. Bilateral tensions remain high on several issues: Taiwan, trade, new technologies, the struggle for influence in the Asia-Pacific and even human rights. “The means of pressure on China are constantly renewed and the list of unilateral sanctions constantly lengthened”Wang Yi lamented.
The head of Chinese diplomacy also warned that Taiwanese political leaders seeking independence for the island, claimed by China and supported by the United States, will be “liquidated by history”.
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Wang Yi also defended his country’s good relations with Russia on Thursday, while China is criticized by the West on the Ukrainian issue. “China and Russia have created a new model for great power relations, which is completely different from the old Cold War era”Wang Yi said.
If Beijing seeks to position itself as a neutral party in the war, its strategic partnership with Moscow has strengthened since the start of the conflict.