In consecutive days this week, China brokered a deal between rival Palestinian factions and hosted Ukraine’s foreign minister at a key moment in the grinding war there.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi , center, hosts an event for Mahmoud al-Aloul, left, vice chairman of Fatah, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, a senior member of Hamas, to meet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
While Beijing did not publicly offer any concrete steps such as timeline for implementation or money for rebuilding, the deal was another sign that China has influence in the Middle East — and even perhaps room to maneuver that the U.S. might not have, said Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Hamas officials have said that they see China as a potential counterweight to the U.S., which is a staunch ally of their foe, Israel.
The deal will “bring hope and a future to the Palestinian people, and is an important step toward resolving the Palestinian question and achieving peace and stability in the Middle East," said Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, on Wednesday. China has long sought more power on the global stage, and it became more assertive around 2009, after Beijing successfully hosted the Olympics, an event seen as its global debut as a modern nation. It was a stark shift from former leader Deng Xiaoping's characterization of Beijing's foreign policy approach as “keep a low profile.”
While the Palestinian deal is a symbol of Beijing's new influence in the Middle East, the Ukrainian foreign minister's visit may be tied to the uncertainty the U.S. presidential electionUkraine, and the recognition that China is one of three major players to engage with, alongside the U.S. and the EU.
Kuleba’s visit was the result of calculation. The foreign minister sought to convince China that deepening ties with Ukraine would not only serve Kyiv’s interests, but feed Beijing’s ambitions to be a serious player on the global stage.
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