China has officially acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas. This recognition comes after China faced criticism for its previous stance on the ongoing conflict. As a significant development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is preparing for a high-profile visit to Washington. This shift in China's stance regarding Israel's self-defense has important implications in the context of international relations and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

"Every country has the right to self-defense but should abide by international humanitarian law and protect civilians," Wang conveyed to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen during a telephone call on, reported by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The recent remarks by Beijing appear to mark the first time that China has officially recognized Israel's right to take action against Hamas. Notably, both the United States and the European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

China's President, Xi Jinping, called for an immediate cease-fire last week and offered to coordinate with Egypt and other Arab nations to seek a just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue. This move comes in the context of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

It's worth noting that China has refrained from explicitly condemning Hamas, the militant group involved in the conflict. This group's recent assault on Israel resulted in significant casualties, including many civilians. In response, U.S. congressional leaders raised concerns during their visit to Beijing.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged China to stand with Israel and condemn the attacks. He expressed his disappointment with China's perceived lack of sympathy or support for Israel during this challenging period.

In addition to U.S. concerns, Israel openly criticized China for its official statements and media reports. Israel expressed its disappointment with China's stance during a call between Israeli officials and China's Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue.

In a recent statement, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's deep concern about the ongoing conflict and the resulting civilian casualties. He condemned actions that harmed civilians and opposed violations of international laws.

This shift in China's stance occurred just before Wang's planned visit to the United States for high-level meetings, where he is set to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The visit is scheduled for October 26 to October 28.

The United States and China hold differing views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. While President Joe Biden affirmed strong U.S. support for Israel during a recent visit to the country, China has aligned itself with the Palestinian cause and avoided explicitly condemning Hamas.

Wang Yi emphasized that China's involvement in this issue is not driven by selfish interests. China sincerely hopes for a comprehensive and fair resolution to the differences between Israel and Palestine, based on the two-state solution. This approach aims to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties involved.

"China will firmly support anything that is conducive to peace and will do its best as long as it is conducive to the reconciliation between Palestine and Israel,” he added.

Image source: Times of India