China's perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict, prevalence of anti-Israeli sentiment on Chinese social media, tight control of social media and biased coverage, Chinese government's condemnation of violence against civilians but refusal to condemn Hamas, China's role in the US-China rivalry and support for Palestinians, and China's long-term strategy in the Middle East.
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Quick takeaways
Chinese social media influencers are spreading anti-Israel messages fueled by biased state-controlled media coverage.
China's official stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict aligns with its goal of gaining popularity in the global South and countering US influence.
Deep dives
Chinese social media fanning anti-Israel sentiment
Chinese social media influencers with large followings, along with misguided netizens and possibly paid government sensors online, have been spreading anti-Israel messages on social media platforms. This wave of sentiment is fueled by one-sided coverage from state-controlled media, which glorifies Hamas and portrays Israeli actions negatively, thus contributing to public anger.
China's controlled media coverage on Middle East conflicts
China's media coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict is tightly controlled to present a biased narrative. Similar to their coverage of the Ukraine-Russia war, Chinese media portrays a strong anti-US and anti-Israel stance while justifying the actions of Hamas. Messages expressing support for Israel or condemning Hamas are selectively erased, shaping public opinion to align with the desired narrative.
China's official stance and historical shift in narrative
The Chinese government's official stance calls for a ceasefire and emphasizes a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, they refuse to condemn Hamas and blame the ongoing conflict on reasons they perceive as justifying Palestinian actions. This position aligns with China's goal of establishing new alliances and gaining popularity in the global South, countering US influence and winning favor with Muslim-majority countries. The historical narrative in China has shifted from supporting Palestine during Mao's era to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and promoting a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
China says it will do its utmost to restore peace to the Middle East and has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Its proposal has been rejected by Israel as the ground assault on Gaza continues. Meanwhile in China itself, feelings on the Middle East conflict are gathering intensity, with social media revealing an anti-semitic streak among some influencers. In this podcast, the journalist and author Howard Zhang explains China’s approach to the Middle East in conversation with regular host, Duncan Bartlett.