China ties must not be marred by ‘politics’: Israeli diplomat Aviv Ezra

Israel and China should avoid letting political disagreement hijack cooperation, an Israeli senior diplomat has said, amid growing signs that the two strategic partners are moving to repair ties following the Gaza war rift. “We do not let [ties] be hijacked by the political sphere and we continue our ongoing activities on the bilateral,” said Aviv Ezra, the Israeli foreign ministry’s deputy director general for Asia and the Pacific. Ezra was in China last week for a working visit, the highest-level Israeli official to make such a trip since the Gaza war broke out in 2023. As the peace deal with Hamas moved forward, the level of risk Israel faced was decreasing, Ezra said in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post in Beijing as he wrapped up his visit. This allowed an opportunity for Israel and China to pursue a relationship that “carried great significance” for both sides. Ezra said he was “very optimistic” about the future of bilateral ties. “We complement each other in many various fields, one of which of course is the commercial cooperation, economy, innovation, technology, but also tourism, people to people. “The synergy has … huge potential, which I personally think is much more than what we have utilised until now.” Ties between China and Israel quickly deteriorated after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage, prompting massive military retaliation from Israel that caused a high civilian toll in Gaza. China’s reluctance to condemn Hamas at the outset drew criticism in Israel. Relations have been further strained by Beijing’s vocal support for the Palestinian cause, a rise in antisemitism across Chinese social media, and, more recently, the joint US-Israeli aerial strike last June on Iran – one of China’s primary regional partners.” Addressing a large delegation of US officials in Jerusalem in September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused China and Qatar of “organising an attack on Israel … [through] the social media of the Western world and the United States”. Beijing rejected the claim as “groundless” and expressed “firm opposition” to it. Israel maintains that it has the right to defend itself against Hamas attacks, but its bombardment and subsequent siege of Gaza, along with the blockade of humanitarian supplies, have drawn growing international criticism. While the exact casualty count remains contested, the United Nations and human rights groups cite Gaza health ministry figures stating that Israel’s military operations have claimed more than 71,760 lives. China has repeatedly called for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza, and criticised the “collective punishment”. Beijing has also accused the United States, a significant Israeli ally, of shielding Israel over the Gaza issue. Ezra said that while Israel expected support from other countries, “it doesn’t mean that we as friends always agree on everything”. “It’s a concept of a negotiation sometimes, sometimes discussion, sometimes mutual understanding, but we don’t create a linkage between the political [difference] and between the bilateral [relations]. Therefore, we are on a parallel path continuing the discussions on the many various elements that we had previously.” There is no sign that Beijing is softening its criticism of Israel in public settings, such as UN debates. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting about the political chill spilling over into Israel’s economic and innovation cooperation with China. Last month, a Reuters report citing two sources said that internet regulators in China had instructed domestic companies to stop using cybersecurity software from about a dozen US and Israeli firms over national security concerns. On Monday, Israel’s largest news portal Ynet said Beijing had imposed a ban on any new investments in the country, citing a court letter by a Chinese investment fund. The fund is now being sued by Israeli settlers in the occupied lands near the Lebanese border for failing to exercise an option to purchase the remaining shares of a lens manufacturing plant. However, some collaboration has been restored, including infrastructure and innovation. In November, Israeli company Dalia Energy signed planning, procurement and construction agreements with three Chinese companies to build two power plants. Last month, China’s special envoy on Middle East affairs Zhai Jun visited Israel where he met Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Zhai stressed the “traditional friendship” between Chinese and Jewish peoples and said China was “ready to work with Israel to maintain bilateral exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation”. Ezra said he also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the one-China policy during his meetings with Chinese counterparts. This comes amid growing concerns that bilateral relations may be derailed by the Taiwan issue. In an interview with Taiwan’s Liberty Times last month, deputy foreign minister Francois Wu said there had been “a significant increase” in Israeli delegations visiting Taiwan compared to the past. Reuters, citing three sources, reported in December that Wu had made an unpublicised visit to Israel, but he has yet to confirm this. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States and Israel, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. Ezra said: “We are very sensitive to what’s important for China because China is a friend and we were very clear when it comes to the issue of Taiwan. Israel adhered to the one-China policy and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and there’s no change in that.” In the 1992 joint communique marking the establishment of diplomatic ties, Israel recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal representative of the whole of China and Taiwan as an inalienable part of China. That marked the beginning of a cordial bilateral relationship. The young and mainly Jewish state was one of the most important foreign suppliers of advanced military technology to China in the 1990s. This lasted until the early 2000s, when US pressure forced Israel to cancel major arms sales to China – first a sophisticated radar system, then components for unmanned aircraft drones. In 2014, the two sides initiated and established a joint innovation committee and in 2017, China defined Israel as a strategic innovative partner. Joint innovation hubs and parks backed by the two governments have been built in Shanghai and Changzhou in eastern China. Ezra posted on social media about his visits to Shanghai and the Changzhou-Israel Innovation Park during his trip in January. In 2015, Israel’s premier science and engineering university, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, partnered with Shantou University to launch the Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology – a landmark step in deepening technological and innovation ties. By late 2024, the institute had expanded to serve over 1,700 students, mostly from mainland China.

China ties must not be marred by ‘politics’: Israeli diplomat Aviv Ezra

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Highest level official to visit China since Gaza war highlights opportunities for China and Israel to advance ties as peace deal progresses

Highest level official to visit China since Gaza war highlights opportunities for China and Israel to advance ties as peace deal progresses