October 7th Exposed China's Hostility, Not Changed It, Analyst Argues
Translated & summarized from Abu Ali Express by baba
An opinion piece argues that the October 7th attacks exposed China's pre-existing hostility towards Israel rather than changing it. While Israel previously focused on economic ties, China's response, including not condemning Hamas and framing the attack as a "military operation," revealed its true stance. Despite some Israeli sectors advocating for a return to normal relations, public opinion has soured, with a recent poll showing low favorability towards China.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- October 7th exposed China's political and hostile stance towards Israel, not changed it, according to an analyst.
- China did not condemn the Hamas attack, and its media framed it as a "military operation."
- China's UN envoy called Palestinian violence a "legitimate armed struggle," not terrorism.
- Chinese social media and academic circles saw a surge in anti-Israel and antisemitic content.
- A recent poll shows only 19% of Israelis hold a positive view of China, with 70% negative.
- Some Israeli sectors advocate for resuming pre-October 7th relations, ignoring China's revealed stance.
For years, Israel prioritized economic and technological opportunities with China, overlooking the nature of its regime. The October 7th Hamas attacks did not alter China's policies but rather exposed its political and hostile stance towards Israel, making it harder to ignore, according to China affairs commentator Amit Elazar.
Following the October 7th attacks, some Israeli experts initially believed the paradigm regarding China would shift, with critical articles appearing and shock expressed over anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement on Chinese social media. This challenged the long-held perception of China as a neutral, potential partner focused on economic ties, unwilling to intervene in conflicts or act hostilely towards Israel.
However, China's official response and subsequent actions revealed this perception to be detached from reality. Before October 7th, China was primarily viewed as an economic powerhouse and a potential partner in technology and trade, with a supposed separation between its economic interests and political stances. Hostile statements were often dismissed as mere lip service.
After October 7th, China's official stance became undeniably hostile. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not condemn the Hamas attack, and official Chinese media framed it as a "military operation," downplaying Hamas's atrocities. China repeatedly condemned Israel internationally, with its UN envoy in February 2024 stating Palestinian violence was a "legitimate armed struggle," not terrorism. Later, China hosted a Hamas delegation in Beijing, and official media referred to hostages as "detainees" and an exchange for their release as a "prisoner swap."
Simultaneously, Chinese social media saw a surge of anti-Israel and antisemitic content, and academic discourse also became increasingly anti-Israel. China's indirect and direct support for Iran, its condemnations of Israel throughout the war, and its disregard for Hezbollah and Iranian attacks against Israelis are significant. Elazar suggests China is using the war to position itself as a leader of the "Global South" against the US-led world order.
Despite these revelations, some in Israel's academic and business sectors advocate for a return to pre-October 7th relations, ignoring the political, ideological, and strategic dimensions. In contrast, the Israeli public has shifted dramatically, with a recent Pew survey showing only 19% of Israelis hold a positive view of China, the lowest globally. The public, it seems, no longer accepts the notion of separating China's economy from its regime's nature. Elazar concludes that October 7th revealed China's true face to Israelis, posing the question of whether they are ready to acknowledge it.