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On Wednesday, Beijing confirmed that a ‘strategic partnership’ had been agreed by the Palestinian Authority and China. The pledge comes after Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in China on Tuesday, for a four day trip to enhance relations.
President Abbas used the trip to support China’s claims to Taiwan and Hong Kong and defended its human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs. Abbas stated that “Palestine firmly opposes interference in China’s internal affairs”, announcing the People’s Republic as the “only legal government representing the whole of China”. Despite the international community identifying evidence of the torture, sexual abuse and forced labour of mostly Muslim Uyhgurs residing in China’s western territory of Xinjiang, Mr Abbas stated that “Xinjiang-related issues are not human rights issues at all, but anti-violent terrorism, de-radicalisation and anti-separatism.”
Announcing the latest visit, China’s Foreign Ministry declared that Beijing would help to mediate consultations between the PA and Israel, following the deterioration of bilateral relations between the two sides in recent years. Chinese Foreign Minister Win Gang emphasised the foundational principle of a “two-state solution” in future talks where China would play an “active role”. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Mahmoud Abbas, that “we are good friends and partners” calling the Palestinian national objective a “just cause (…) to restore their legitimate national rights.” The talks mark an “important milestone” according to Mr Jinping, “in the pursuit of an “independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital”, Chinese state media reported.
Mr Jinping has taken proactive steps to push American influence out of the Middle East, brokering a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the 10th of March and ushering in full diplomatic ties between the regional powers. Palestinian Authority Social Welfare Minister Ahmed Majdalani has claimed that the deal represents “the starting point of the decline of American hegemony in the region”. Mr Majdalani argued that Israel has “billions of dollars’ worth in projects and investments” with China which could be leveraged for diplomatic gains and warned that the US “will not forever be willing to support and protect” Israel.
In October, the Palestinian Authority secured links with Moscow as the Russian and Palestinian Presidents met to discuss their shared distrust of the US.
