Can Asian countries make a difference to the Israel-Hamas war? In recent weeks, different entities from across the Global South have tried to do so. In Riyadh, countries from Asia and Africa which are members of either the Arab League or the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) or both met to condemn Israel’s military actions … Read more
Children in Saudi Arabia are committed to learning Chinese. The Ministry of Education has instructed all public and private secondary schools to teach Mandarin for at least two lessons per week. Teaching may soon be expanded to encompass universities and primary schools. The language classes have been mandated by Saudi Arabia’s powerful de facto leader, … Read more
The recent tensions between Israel and China over the Israel-Hamas conflict could further deteriorate. China quickly sided with the Palestinians, refused to condemn Hamas’ terrorist actions, and did not express support for Israeli suffering. Israeli government officials have been openly critical of China’s response. At the same time, the Biden administration provided Israel with sympathy … Read more
Advertisement The Israel-Gaza conflict provides a valuable chance for understanding how China manages economic and political considerations amid escalating geopolitical tensions. This dynamic presents a challenge as China navigates the delicate balance between economic interests and political alignments in an increasingly fractured global order. The relationship between China and Israel is often described as “cold … Read more
Advertisement In the early morning of October 7, local time, armed forces from Gaza, led by Hamas, suddenly launched an attack on Israel. They entered Israel and killed more than 1,400 people, including civilians, and took more than 100 people back to Gaza as hostages. Israel, which was hit hard, declared the country to be … Read more
Advertisement The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Julian Spencer-Churchill, an associate professor of political science at Concordia University, and Behrouz Ayaz, an Iranian political analyst collaborating with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, … Read more
Advertisement A 50-year-old Israeli man who works at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was stabbed Friday in front of a supermarket, Chinese police and the Israeli government said. Beijing police said they had arrested a suspect, a 53-year-old foreign man. They described the victim as a family member of an Israeli diplomat. No motive was … Read more
Advertisement As a reporter, I have been focused on Israel and the Middle East for almost two decades – which makes me unique among Chinese journalists. Since 2006, I have been checking Israeli and Gulf media outlets for news almost every day, even during the Chinese New Year. During this Gaza war, the outpouring of … Read more
Advertisement Much has already been said about Hamas’s surprise attack in Israel last Saturday, October 7, and the results are still unfolding. The potential it carries to provoke drastic changes in regional – and possibly global – geopolitics is high and could have heavy impacts on the economy, security, and diplomatic relations of countries around … Read more
China’s President Xi Jinping, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands after a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 14, 2023. Credit: Jade Gao/Pool Photo via AP Advertisement On October 7, Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched large-scale attacks into Israel. In addition to a barrage of thousands of … Read more