Neutrality Studies China‘s Silence on Gaza is Strategic | Zhang Sheng
Nov 23, 2025
Zhang Sheng, a non-resident visiting researcher focused on Chinese foreign policy, discusses China's intricate stance on Gaza and Palestine. He reveals China's historical solidarity with Palestinians while detailing recent shifts due to economic ties with Israel. Zhang highlights China's cautious response to the Gaza conflict, public outrage in Chinese social media, and debates on anti-Israel sentiment. He explains China's abstention in the UN resolution, emphasizing strategic neutrality while critiquing perceived double standards in global narratives about human rights.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Longstanding Chinese Solidarity With Palestine
- China has a long history of solidarity with Palestinian liberation dating back to the 1950s and 1960s.
- That historical solidarity shifted toward moderation after the 1980s as China expanded economic ties, including with Israel.
Weibo Flood Exposes Diplomatic Limits
- Chinese netizens flooded the Israeli embassy's Weibo comments after Gaza, forcing the embassy to close comments and limit visible views.
- That censorship reversal amused Chinese users and undercut Israeli claims about democratic tolerance.
Propaganda Backfires In Beijing
- The Israeli embassy in Beijing spread misleading claims about a hostage with Chinese ties and publicised her as "half-Chinese."
- When Chinese media interviewed the actual mother, the propaganda backfired and Israel dropped the tactic.