Palestine Archives - Friends of Socialist China

The rise of China and the imminent US exit: What must the Arabs do?

In the following article for the Palestine Chronicle, veteran Palestinian-American journalist Ramzy Baroud reflects on the deeper significance of Donald Trump’s recent state visit to China, and on what the accelerating decline of US hegemony means for the Arab world.

Baroud argues that Trump’s visit will be remembered as the moment Washington tacitly acknowledged Beijing’s ascendancy as a global superpower. Approaching Xi Jinping “not from a position of absolute global dictation, but through a lens of defensive pragmatism”, the US appeared less as an undisputed hegemon than as “a major power among equals”. He draws an instructive contrast with Nixon’s 1972 visit: where China was then a relatively isolated, largely agrarian society, today it is the world’s largest economy by purchasing power parity, a hub of global supply chains, and a leader in artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies.

Nowhere, Baroud writes, is American decline more visible than in the Middle East, where decades of disastrous military campaigns have eroded Washington’s credibility. He situates the US-Israeli war on Iran not as a return to regional dominance but as the “volatile spasms of a fading hegemony”, comparing it to the failed 1956 tripartite aggression against Egypt.

Meanwhile China, free of a colonial legacy and itself a survivor of Western imperialism, advances through economic integration and development
rather than military domination, and is fully committed to the principle of sovereign equality.

The challenge Baroud poses to the Arab world is one of political clarity, sovereignty and unity – and of action, above all, towards the freedom of Palestine.

US President Donald Trump’s state visit to China will go down in history as the day the United States finally acknowledged Beijing’s ascendancy as a global superpower. That acknowledgment does not need to be articulated in a formal statement; it can be clearly read in the subtext of diplomatic behavior, global perception, and shifting media coverage.

During the summit, Trump’s delegation—accompanied by prominent American corporate leaders—engaged with President Xi Jinping not from a position of absolute global dictation, but through a lens of defensive pragmatism. This transactional approach focused on securing bilateral trade commitments and preventing catastrophic economic friction.

The spectacle of the leader of the Western world navigating Beijing’s terms, while actively managing domestic economic anxieties, signals a profound shift. The traditional American posture of undisputed global hegemon has transformed into that of a major power among equals, seeking stable terms of co-existence with an unignorable rival.

The moment is comparable only to Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to Beijing, though the circumstances are entirely different. Back then, the US’s aim was to exploit the Sino-Soviet split and gain leverage over the Soviet Union in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic ties.

China sets out position on Palestine and Strait of Hormuz at UN

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong has reiterated China’s clear positions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on the present situation in the Strait of Hormuz at open debates in the Security Council held on consecutive days.

Speaking on April 28, Fu Cong said:

“The Palestinian question has always been at the heart of the Middle East issue and must not be marginalised under any circumstances. For decades, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has revolved in cycles. Its fundamental crux is that the two-State solution is only half-realised. The State of Israel was established long ago, while the State of Palestine remains out of reach. Although intense clashes have come to a halt, the Palestinian people are still forced to keep company with death and suffering, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories continues to worsen, and the foundation of the two-State solution risks being completely hollowed out. Turmoil and war are not the fate of the Palestinian people. The international community must summon the greatest sense of urgency to reverse this negative trajectory and rectify the historic injustice endured by Palestine.”

He went on to make three points:

Gaza is not a permanent battlefield, and the suffering of its civilians must cease immediately. While efforts by the international community to broker a ceasefire in Gaza are welcome, the most pressing task remains cementing the ceasefire and scaling up aid. Since October last year, Israel has relentlessly mounted attacks and fortified its military presence, resulting in over 800 fatalities and more than 2,000 wounded. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, characterised by scarcity of essential supplies, deplorable sanitary conditions, and a medical system teetering on the precipice of total collapse. Israel must fulfill its international humanitarian law obligations, dismantle all barriers to humanitarian access, and guarantee that UNRWA [the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] and other humanitarian agencies can carry out their aid work.

Settlement activities are unacceptable, and tensions in the West Bank must be deescalated. Israel is currently accelerating the expansion of settlements, having recently approved the construction of 34 additional settlements and initiating the rebuilding of the Sanur settlement, which had been shuttered for many years. The escalating violence in the West Bank is equally concerning. Settler violence is intensifying, and the occupying power frequently conducts searches, arrests, and raids, even promulgating death penalty legislation specifically targeting Palestinians. Israel must heed the strong appeals of the international community, immediately halt illegal settlement activities, effectively curb settler violence, and ensure robust accountability for all attacks.

The two-State solution is non-negotiable, and the independent statehood of Palestine must be supported. It is deeply concerning that voices opposing the two-State solution continue to come from Israel, with some even threatening to strangle the idea of a Palestinian state. The international community must increase support for Palestine to advance the early establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The previous day, Fu Cong made remarks on the Safety and Protection of Waterways in the Maritime Domain in which he said:

Chinese representative voices support for the just cause of the Palestinian people at UN Human Rights Council

China has taken the opportunity of the ongoing 61^st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland to affirm that it will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people and work tirelessly for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Speaking in the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, on March 24, Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organisations in Switzerland, said:

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, and their [the Palestinian people’s] human rights have been grossly violated. Israel has put forward a plan to annex 82 percent of the West Bank, continued to expand settlements, connived at settler violence, and launched attacks against Lebanon and Syria, all of which constitute serious violations of international law and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions.”

The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organisations in Switzerland.

On 24 March 2026, the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, attended the meeting and elaborated on China’s position.

Ambassador Jia Guide pointed out that the situation in the Middle East remains turbulent and the suffering of the Palestinian people is alarming. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, and their human rights have been grossly violated. Israel has put forward a plan to annex 82 percent of the West Bank, continued to expand settlements, connived at settler violence, and launched attacks against Lebanon and Syria, all of which constitute serious violations of international law and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions.

Ambassador Jia stressed that humanitarian access must be restored, a durable ceasefire in Gaza must be achieved, settlement activities must be curbed, and the two-state solution must be implemented. Israel should immediately withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories. China will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people and work tirelessly for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Fatah delegation visits China

Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), met in Beijing on January 16 with a visiting delegation of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said that the CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels.

Zakarneh said, Palestine spoke highly of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification.

The following article was originally published on the IDCPC website.

Liu Haixing Meets with a Fatah Delegation of Palestine

Beijing, January 16th (IDCPC) — Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Mahmoud Abbas, China-Palestine relations have maintained good momentum of development. The CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels. Liu also introduced the main achievements of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zakarneh said, Palestine highly spoke of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification. Fatah pays close attention to the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, learn from China’s successful experiences in aspects such as comprehensively exercising rigorous governance over the Party, cultivation of cadres and economic development.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Jin Xin, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, Firas Shomaly, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine, and Jawad Mohammed Qutish Awad, Palestinian Ambassador to China, and others, were present.

Chinese scholar says resistance is only viable approach but patience is needed

The following is the text of an interview conducted by the Tehran Times with Chinese scholar Professor Jin Liangxiang on the sidelines of the recent Conference on People’s Rights and Legitimate Freedoms in the Thoughts of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Professor Jin notes that: “The Americans like to talk about liberal democracy and, when doing so, they link it to human rights. They even intervene in the domestic affairs of countries in the Middle East – such as Iran and many others – in the name of humanitarian concerns.

“But in Gaza and Palestine, we have witnessed atrocities committed by Israel, resulting in more than 70,000 deaths. In this regard, the Americans have turned a blind eye. So, I believe the United States is not in a position to lecture others about liberal democracy or to intervene under the banner of humanitarianism.”

Responding to a question on different perceptions of people’s rights and freedoms, he stresses that resistance is the only way out:

“When we talk about freedom, we must begin with justice. The most serious challenge to justice in the region is hegemony and power politics. Therefore, resistance becomes the only viable approach to achieving justice.

“We should not assume that hegemonic powers will make concessions on their own. Those policies will not disappear by themselves. The only way to deliver justice is through resistance. Even though the Middle East has experienced some changes in recent years, as long as oppression exists, resistance will continue.”

However: “The evolution of the international order will be a long process. People across the region – not only Iranians – do not accept hegemony. But weakening hegemonic structures and transforming the global order will take time… So, patience is required. BRICS is developing strong momentum and is expanding with new members. It will need time for internal integration, improving mechanisms, and organising resources. But it will become an important mechanism in shaping the future international order, playing a growing role not only financially but also politically and in the security arena.”

Jin is a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) as well as a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, based in Doha, Qatar.

The following article was originally published by Tehran Times. A video of the interview may be viewed here.

China at UN: The Palestinian question remains at the very heart of the Middle East issue

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong addressed a UN Security Council briefing meeting on December 16.

He pointed out that: “When the Middle East is in turmoil, the world cannot be at peace. The Palestinian question remains at the very heart of the Middle East issue… While the first phase ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been reached, the prospect of peace remains distant. The historical injustices endured by the Palestinian people persist. The Palestinian question should never be marginalised.”

Fu raised four key points:

Over the past two months, frequent violations of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza have resulted in the death of over 300 civilians. Reaching a ceasefire agreement must entail the complete cessation of all hostilities, not merely a downgrade from intense conflict to low-intensity attacks.

The suffering of civilians must not continue, and urgent actions are needed to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Winter storms have brought heavy rains, inundating numerous temporary camps and putting hundreds of thousands of displaced people under severe threat. Israel’s continued restrictions on access to essential supplies are impeding the efforts of UNRWA [The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] and other humanitarian agencies to deliver critical assistance. Last week, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution supporting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly affirms Israel’s obligations as the occupying power to ensure humanitarian supplies to Gaza and to cooperate with UNRWA and other relevant agencies. China urges Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under international law, open all border crossings, lift access restrictions on humanitarian supplies, and support the work of the UN and other aid agencies.

The situation in the West Bank must not be overlooked, and unilateral actions in violation of international law must cease immediately. The occupying power continues to advance settlement policies, demolish Palestinian homes, and condone settler violence, resulting in massive civilian casualties and displacement. Settlement activities violate international law and Council Resolution 2334, leading to the shrinkage of Palestinian living space and eroding the foundations of the two-State solution.

Justice and fairness must prevail, and the two-State solution must be implemented without delay. Implementing the two-State solution and establishing an independent state of Palestine is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question. Any arrangements concerning Gaza’s future must be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine. Any attempt to alter Gaza’s territorial or demographic composition must be firmly rejected. The international community must redouble its efforts to advance the two-State solution, support the early establishment of an independent state of Palestine, and facilitate its full membership in the UN.

In conclusion, he reiterated:

“China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. Recently, President Xi Jinping has on multiple occasions, comprehensively articulated China’s position and proposals for resolving the Palestinian question and announced that China will provide 100 million US dollars in assistance to Palestine to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support its recovery and reconstruction. China will continue to work with the international community to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and make unremitting efforts towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question at an early date.”

The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

President，

I wish to begin by expressing our condolences to the victims of the mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, and expressing our solidarity with the bereaved families and those injured. I thank Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov for his briefing.

When the Middle East is in turmoil, the world cannot be at peace. The Palestinian question remains at the very heart of the Middle East issue. The latest outbreak of the Gaza conflict has brought unimaginable suffering to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians and triggered severe spillover effects across the Middle East. While the first phase ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been reached, the prospect of peace remains distant. The historical injustices endured by the Palestinian people persist. The Palestinian question should never be marginalized. The international community must further build consensus and take more proactive actions to advance a political solution.

The Resistance Front and BRICS

The following article, written for Al Mayadeen by Australian author and academic Tim Anderson, addresses the frustration voiced by some anti-imperialists with regard to China and Russia’s abstention on UN Security Council Resolution 2803 – Trump’s ‘comprehensive plan’ to end the Gaza conflict.

Tim argues that much of the criticism of China and Russia stems from misunderstandings about the nature of the multipolar trajectory and from unrealistic expectations that countries outside the region would share the principles and methods of the Resistance Front in West Asia (Iran, the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, Syria pre-December 2024, Ansar Allah-led Yemen, and the Iraqi Resistance).

The article observes that the Security Council resolution was supported by the Palestinian Authority and by the other states in the region, making it difficult for China or Russia to veto. “The US had the Gulf Arab regimes plus the PLO-Palestinian Authority in its pocket. Russia and China had no allies and would have had to oppose the PLO and bear the blame for blocking a PLO-supported end to the bombing.”

While both China and Russia maintain relations with the various organisations of Palestinian resistance, they also have historic ties with the PLO, and bilateral relations with the internationally-recognised government of the Palestinian State. Tim writes: “The widespread historical support for the PLO and the PA, and therefore also the ‘two-state’ notion promoted up to now by the PLO, is largely a consequence of Palestinian disunity and the failure of Resistance factions to be properly represented in the PLO, the only Palestinian body that has UN status. This is a problem for the Resistance. It is hard to expect allies in other continents to contradict the PLO-PA on this and opt for (without Palestinian leadership) a single democratic state in Palestine.”

Tim concludes:

We should understand and build realistic relations with a range of allies that may not share all our values. Russia and China are not part of the Resistance Front, but they are playing an important role in building structures to bypass US power and thus facilitate a multipolar and freer world, which will help all independent peoples. We should neither exaggerate their “saviour” capacities nor their failings. They will have an important place in the future as the only strategic alternative to the current global dictatorship.

Tim’s analysis correlates with the recently-published article on the topic by Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party (Switzerland).

Supporters of the Resistance Front in West Asia are understandably disappointed by the failure of Russia and China to fully oppose Washington’s machinations at the UNSC over Gaza. This follows Syrian disappointment over Russia’s rapid engagement with al-Jolani’s regime in Damascus and Moscow’s ongoing relations with the Israelis.

However, there are common pro-Resistance misunderstandings of the great counterweights in the world, which lead to inaccurate claims that the BRICS leaders are ‘selling out’ or ‘betraying’ the Resistance. Those misunderstandings deserve some attention. At the core are principles of identifying the real enemies of the Resistance, as distinct from those with whom there might be normal or productive relations. We should neither exaggerate the ‘saviour’ status nor the failings of our potential allies.

Two complementary strategies in support of Palestine and multipolarity

We are very pleased to publish the following contributed article by Comrade Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party (Switzerland), which makes an original analysis of the present state of the Palestinian struggle, and the role of various international actors in this regard, within the context of the multipolarity trend and on the basis of Marxism-Leninism.

He notes that, back in September 2024, he had written that, from a tactical viewpoint, Israel was apparently winning, but from a strategic one, it would lose, and this is now being reflected in a range of tactical adjustments on the part of various imperialist forces.

Against this background, he continues: “China (and its Communist Party) will probably tactically follow a different line from us Western communists (and perhaps also from Arab communists) who lack governmental responsibility. This potential difference in method must in no way be read as a capitulation or, worse, as a Chinese betrayal of the Palestinian cause, but rather as an intelligent political move complementary to our struggle! For although, as stated by the top Chinese representative at the UN, “the Palestinian question is at the heart of Middle Eastern issues” and is therefore not an insignificant element in the path of the New Silk Road, it is also true that the conflict between imperialism and multipolarism is fought on a global level and not only in Gaza: Ukraine, for example, is at this moment a war scenario potentially much more dangerous for the world than Gaza, and Moscow therefore has this priority. Beijing for its part must win the battle against Trump’s tariffs, otherwise the entire Chinese economic strategy would be weakened.”

In this way, Comrade Ay creatively utilises and applies the same dialectical approach advanced by Mao Zedong, for example in his speech to the November 1957 Moscow Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties, where he said that the compromises made by socialist countries in their relations with capitalist states should not necessarily be followed by others. “Each party and country must consider its own conditions.”

Ay adds: “It is therefore no surprise that last November 17th, both Beijing and Moscow abstained in the UN Security Council, thus allowing the (awful) Donald Trump plan to pass de facto. Comrade Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, while stressing that this resolution, put to a vote rather hastily, was ‘deficient in many aspects and deeply concerning’, especially because it does not establish that ‘Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and to no one else’, explicitly reiterated that Beijing’s priority remains, at all costs, ‘a lasting ceasefire, alleviating the humanitarian disaster, and starting post-war reconstruction to rekindle the hope of peace and development for the population of Gaza’.

Xi Jinping pledges US$100 million for Palestine

In the latest manifestation of China’s long-standing support for the just struggle of the Palestinian people, President Xi Jinping has announced that his country will provide 100 million US dollars of assistance to Palestine to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support its recovery and reconstruction.

Xi made the announcement on December 4 during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was paying a state visit to China.

The following day Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said that since the outbreak of the conflict, China has provided multiple batches of humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip through the UN, Egypt, Jordan and other channels, which was welcomed and appreciated by the Palestinian government and people. China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights and will continue working relentlessly with the international community for a full and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the easing of humanitarian situation there, and an early political settlement of the Palestinian question.

In its response to this news, Hamas stated:

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas expresses its great appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the friendly People’s Republic of China for announcing the provision of humanitarian aid worth $100 million in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to alleviate their humanitarian suffering under the continuous aggression imposed by the occupation on our people, and to contribute to the efforts of reconstruction.

“This generous initiative comes as an extension of China’s historical and firm positions in support of the rights of our Palestinian people, which are non-negotiable, including their right to freedom and independence, their right to self-determination, and the establishment of their independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and its capital Jerusalem.”

The Palestinian News and Information Agency WAFA further reported that President Mahmoud Abbas had sent a letter to Xi Jinping expressing his deep appreciation, adding that this generous initiative embodies China’s principled and unwavering stance in support of justice and reflects the profound humanitarian and moral solidarity demonstrated by the Chinese leadership towards the Palestinian people in light of the unprecedented aggression and suffering they are enduring.

China demands an end to Israeli ceasefire violations and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza

China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong has again reiterated his country’s strong solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned Israel for its ceasefire violations, continued obstruction of desperately needed humanitarian aid and worsening settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on November 24, Fu began by stating that: “The Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issue and bears on peace and security in the region and beyond.”

He continued: “We welcome the agreement reached on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. However, peace between Palestine and Israel is still far from being achieved, and the suffering of civilians continues. We call on the international community to work harder with the greatest sense of urgency and unwavering political will toward restoring peace in the region.”

In this regard, he advanced four points:

Achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is a top priority. We note with concern that violent clashes persist despite the ceasefire. Israel has reportedly committed over 400 violations of the agreement, resulting in more than 300 civilian deaths in Gaza. A ceasefire means the complete cessation of all attacks and should be observed by all parties in good faith. Any incident causing civilian casualties is unacceptable and repeated attacks must not become the new normal in Gaza.

Scaling up humanitarian assistance for Gaza is a matter of urgency. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with severe shortages of essential supplies and medical equipment. Humanitarian access to Gaza continues to face multiple obstacles, and the aid that does reach Gaza falls far short of the quantity specified in the ceasefire agreement. The International Court of Justice has issued multiple advisory opinions and orders of provisional measures, stating unequivocally that, as the occupying power, Israel is under obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Easing tensions in the West Bank is a pressing demand. The occupying power’s continued settlement expansion and connivance of settler violence have further fuelled the tensions in the West Bank. As documented by the UN, there were more than 260 incidents of settler violence last month alone, resulting in significant civilian casualties and property damage, making it the most devastating month since 2006.

Implementing the two-State solution is the only way out. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian state. Any future arrangements on Gaza should be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community must redouble efforts to advance the two-State solution, oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, and support the early realisation of independent Palestinian statehood and its full UN membership.

We reproduce Fu Cong’s full statement below. It was originally published on the website of China’s permanent mission to the UN.

In this regard, he advanced four points:

Achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is a top priority. We note with concern that violent clashes persist despite the ceasefire. Israel has reportedly committed over 400 violations of the agreement, resulting in more than 300 civilian deaths in Gaza. A ceasefire means the complete cessation of all attacks and should be observed by all parties in good faith. Any incident causing civilian casualties is unacceptable and repeated attacks must not become the new normal in Gaza.

Scaling up humanitarian assistance for Gaza is a matter of urgency. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with severe shortages of essential supplies and medical equipment. Humanitarian access to Gaza continues to face multiple obstacles, and the aid that does reach Gaza falls far short of the quantity specified in the ceasefire agreement. The International Court of Justice has issued multiple advisory opinions and orders of provisional measures, stating unequivocally that, as the occupying power, Israel is under obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Easing tensions in the West Bank is a pressing demand. The occupying power’s continued settlement expansion and connivance of settler violence have further fuelled the tensions in the West Bank. As documented by the UN, there were more than 260 incidents of settler violence last month alone, resulting in significant civilian casualties and property damage, making it the most devastating month since 2006.

Implementing the two-State solution is the only way out. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian state. Any future arrangements on Gaza should be guided by the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community must redouble efforts to advance the two-State solution, oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation, and support the early realisation of independent Palestinian statehood and its full UN membership.

We reproduce Fu Cong’s full statement below. It was originally published on the website of China’s permanent mission to the UN.

China ‘supports just cause of Palestinian people’, urges lasting ceasefire

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urged the international community to step up efforts to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

In his congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on November 25 to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Xi said the Palestinian issue lies at the heart of the Middle East conflict, affecting international fairness, justice, and regional stability. “As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights.”

He added that post-conflict governance and reconstruction in Gaza should be carried out under the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine,” with full respect for the will of the Palestinian people and said the Palestinian issue is also a test of the effectiveness of the global governance system.

He called on nations to confront the root causes of the Palestinian issue, shoulder responsibility, take strong actions, correct historical injustices and uphold fairness and justice.

The following article was originally published by Palestine Chronicle.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urged the international community to step up efforts to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, according to Chinese media cited by the Anadolu news agency.

In his congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Xi said the Palestinian issue lies at the heart of the Middle East conflict, affecting international fairness, justice, and regional stability, the Xinhua news agency reported.

China explains its abstention in UN Gaza vote

On November 17, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2803 (2025), which sets out proposed post-war arrangements for the Palestinian territory of Gaza. The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour and no votes against. China and Russia abstained from the vote. As permanent members of the Security Council, a negative vote by either country would have vetoed the resolution.

Following the vote, China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong made an explanatory statement. He began by stating that:

“Gaza, brutalised by two years of war, is a land of ruins in dire need of rebuilding. Over two million people continue to live in deprivation and struggle in displacement. China supports the Security Council in taking all necessary actions to achieve a lasting ceasefire, relieve the humanitarian disaster, and launch post-war reconstruction to rekindle the hope of peace and development for the people in Gaza.”

However, he added: “Regrettably, the draft resolution that was just voted on is lacking in many respects and is deeply worrisome” and went on to set out four points in this regard:

The draft resolution is vague and unclear on many critical elements. The penholder requests the Council to authorise the establishment of a Board of Peace and international stabilisation force, which will play a key role in the post-war governance in Gaza. It should have explained in details their structure, composition, terms of reference, and criteria of participation, among others… However, the draft resolution contains skimpy details on these critical elements.

The draft resolution does not demonstrate the fundamental principle of Palestinians governing Palestine. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not to anyone else. Any post-war arrangements must respect the will of the Palestinian people… The draft resolution outlines post-war governance arrangements for Gaza, but it seems that Palestine is barely visible in it, and the Palestinian sovereignty and ownership are not fully reflected.

The draft resolution does not ensure the effective participation of the UN and its Security Council… The UN has ample experience and capacities in post-conflict recovery and economic reconstruction and should therefore play a vital role in Gaza’s post-war governance. However, no such arrangement is made in the draft resolution.

The draft resolution is not a product of full consultations among Council members. Less than two weeks after introducing the draft resolution, the penholder rushed the Council into making a critical decision on the future and destiny of Gaza. Council members responsibly engaged in the consultations, raising a lot of constructive questions and suggestions, but most of them were not taken on board.

However: “Notwithstanding the above-mentioned many issues in the draft resolution and China’s major concerns about it, considering the fragile and severe situation in Gaza, the imperative of maintaining the ceasefire, and the positions of the regional countries and Palestine, China abstained in the vote. It must also be noted that our concerns and worries remain… The Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issues. It is a matter about international equity and justice… China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. We stand ready to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.”

Is China’s foreign policy ‘good enough’?

The following article is a chapter by Friends of Socialist China co-founder Danny Haiphong from the forthcoming compilation China Changes Everything, put together by the FoSC US Committee and featuring chapters by Ken Hammond, Gerald Horne, Paweł Wargan, Kyle Ferrana, Jacquie Luqman, KJ Noh, Margaret Kimberley, Radhika Desai, Dee Knight, Keith Bennett, Carlos Martinez and others.

Danny argues that widespread Western claims about China’s foreign policy – from “debt trap diplomacy” to imperial ambitions – are unfounded and rooted in projection.

The article debunks the “debt trap” narrative, using research by scholars such as Deborah Brautigam showing that most Global South debt is owed to Western lenders, the IMF, and the World Bank rather than China. Cases often cited as examples of Chinese asset seizures, such as Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port or Uganda’s airport, are shown to be fabrications. Meanwhile, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) focuses on infrastructure development and mutual benefit – building railways, ports, metros, energy systems, communications pathways, schools and hospitals in countries long exploited by colonial powers. These projects create jobs, raise living standards, promote development, and expand global connectivity.

Taking up the complex issue of whether China is “doing enough” in relation to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Danny rejects the accusation that China is passive. He cites China’s resolute stand at the UN demanding comprehensive ceasefire and withdrawal, its mediation efforts among Palestinian factions, and its support for the principal regional backers of Palestinian self-determination, most notably Iran. Demands that China “do more,” he says, misplace responsibility: the genocide is enabled by US military, financial, and diplomatic support. The real task for people in the West is not to pressure China, but to confront their own governments and the US-led imperial system that causes these crises.

There isn’t a single statement from the Palestinian resistance organizations or from the entire Axis of Resistance demanding that China do more. In fact, these forces are building closer ties to China with the aim of strengthening their stability and therefore their effectiveness in resisting imperialism and colonialism. China’s relations with Iran have grown tremendously, helping the biggest supporter of Palestine to survive and to even make military and industrial advances despite U.S. and EU sanctions.

Furthermore, Danny notes that China is operating under significant constraints while working systematically to oppose imperialism and enable a multipolar world order. He concludes:

It is clear that China is operating within the contradictions of a decaying US-led unipolar order, and by doing so can offer many tangible benefits to humanity. The real question we in the West should be asking is, how can we collectively strengthen our movements to put real pressure on the root cause of the genocide in Gaza: the U.S. empire. Once we do, new and ample opportunities will emerge, to end not only the horrors in Gaza, but also the entire system of empire from which they sprang.

The question in the title may seem hyperbolic, but it is one that comes up in one form or another across the U.S. political spectrum.

U.S. elites slam China’s foreign policy as riddled with “debt traps” for poorer countries in the Global South. The Western corporate media asserts that China is pursuing its own kind of empire and has a target on its own province of Taiwan as well as its neighbors in the South China Sea.

For the US ruling circle and its European vassals, China is an imperial competitor seeking to destroy the West’s “rules-based” international order (actually a euphemism for U.S. imperialism).

There are also plenty on the political “left”, even some communists, who view China in the exact same light. They consider China to be “state-capitalist” and therefore pursuing profits at the expense of humanity. And then there are those who, even if they rebuke this criticism and uphold China’s socialist foundation, are profoundly disappointed in China’s foreign policy. To these critics, China falls short of the global solidarity required in this historical moment and is not aggressive enough in the pursuit of justice.

KJ Noh: Washington has been preparing for war with China for over a decade

This wide-ranging interview with political analyst KJ Noh on India and Global Left centres on China’s geopolitical role, the US’s evolving imperial strategy, and the urgent need for solidarity among the nations of the Global South.

KJ begins by responding to the criticism that China is not doing enough to end the genocide in Palestine. He states bluntly: “let’s be clear – no country is doing enough. We are witnessing a live-streamed genocide – children are starving, journalists and doctors are being killed, and an entire population is being besieged and starved. This cannot and should not be tolerated.”

Nonetheless, he contends that blaming third parties such as China diverts responsibility from the Western powers funding, arming and shielding Israel. “In reality, this is not just an Israeli genocide — it is a US-led imperial genocide, with Israel acting as the subcontractor. The project of colonisation and control of West Asia’s resources is part of a larger imperial strategy.”

Regarding China’s position, KJ notes that China was one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine, and has long supported its liberation struggle. China last year hosted reconciliation talks among 14 Palestinian factions and has explicitly backed the right of occupied peoples to armed resistance. He further argues that China’s approach is constrained by international structures it cannot unilaterally override.

Turning to US policy and the unfolding New Cold War, KJ asserts that Washington has been preparing for war with China since at least 2009, when the “Air-Sea Battle” doctrine was formulated — a continuation of its “Shock and Awe” strategy of pre-emptive decapitation. He describes a three-stage process of escalation: information warfare, military positioning and provocation, warning that the US now considers tactical nuclear weapons usable. The US, he argues, seeks proxies such as Taiwan Province, the Philippines and South Korea to wage a regional war that could quickly turn nuclear.

To avoid becoming proxy battlegrounds, KJ urges that countries of the Global South build sovereignty — digital, financial, energy, and territorial — and strengthen mutual alliances such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

China strongly condemns US misuse of veto to shield Israel

On September 18, the United States yet again abused its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block a call for a ceasefire and an end to the carnage and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In this regard, Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong has made three strong statements decrying the actions of the United States and Israel and in support of the just and inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people.

Speaking at a United Nations General Assembly debate on the matter, held on October 1, he said:

“Time and again, the Security Council has sought to take actions, only to be forcefully blocked by the United States again and again. On September 18, the United States once again vetoed a Security Council draft resolution on Gaza. China expresses its deep disappointment and regret over this. If it were not for the United States’ repeated abuse of the veto, the Security Council’s response to the Gaza crisis would not have been so inadequate. If it were not for the United States’ shielding of Israel, Council resolutions and international law would not have been so flagrantly violated.”

He outlined three imperatives as follows:

A lasting ceasefire in Gaza must be achieved immediately. History has repeatedly demonstrated that military means is not the way out, and that one’s own security cannot be built on the insecurity of others.

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be alleviated. Under the man-made blockade, Gaza is witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. China reiterates that the weaponisation of humanitarian aid is unacceptable, the militarisation of aid distribution mechanism is unacceptable, and attacks on aid-seeking civilians and humanitarian workers are unacceptable.

The two-State solution must be implemented. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian territory. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements must adhere to the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people.

At a UN Security Council briefing on September 29, he noted: “Last week, at the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, the high-level meeting on the implementation of the two-State solution, and other major events, the international community once again issued a powerful call for an immediate end to the killings, for saving lives, and for achieving peace. This is not merely the most fundamental requirement for upholding fairness and justice. More importantly, it is the bare minimum required by human morality and conscience.

Symbolic significance of Western states’ recognition of Palestine

In late September, several Western states, including Britain, France, Canada, Australia and others, formally recognised the State of Palestine. This follows similar moves over the last two years by Ireland, Norway and Spain, bringing the total to 157 UN member states. The recognition reflects growing outrage at Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 65,000 people and destroyed the bulk of the territory’s infrastructure. UN investigators have confirmed what is widely known: that Israel is committing genocide, deliberately targeting civilians and obstructing food supplies.

In the following article for Beijing Review, Carlos Martinez observes that China recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 – being one of the first countries to do so – and has long been a consistent supporter of Palestinian national rights. Since the beginning of the current genocide, Beijing has called for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, the restoration of humanitarian aid, and top-level negotiations towards a lasting peace based on Palestinian statehood.

Carlos notes that, last year, China hosted representatives of 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, facilitating the Beijing Declaration on national unity. Chinese officials have also defended the Palestinian right to resist colonial occupation at the International Court of Justice.

The stark contrast between Washington’s obstructionism and China’s active promotion of peace underscores a broader global divergence: China is increasingly seen as a stabilising force advocating dialogue and justice, while the US is perceived as hegemonistic and destabilising.

The article concludes:

While wider recognition of Palestinian statehood represents a victory for Palestinians, it is a largely symbolic step. Gaza is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Illegal settlements are expanding in the West Bank. Self-determination and national rights for Palestinians are still far from being realised.

The peoples of the world must continue to mobilise to demand an immediate ceasefire, an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops, an end to the siege, a resumption of full humanitarian aid, and the earliest possible UN-level dialogue towards a just and lasting peace and the realisation of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.

In late September, a number of Western countries including Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Portugal, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco announced their formal recognition of the State of Palestine.

This follows similar announcements by Ireland, Norway and Spain last year, meaning that 157 out of 193 United Nations member states now recognize Palestinian statehood, which was originally declared by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1988.

That these Western countries, longstanding supporters of Israel, have finally chosen to extend formal recognition to Palestine is a significant development, and reflects the growing international revulsion at Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, which has to date resulted in the deaths of at least 65,000 people, the majority of them women and children.

Gaza’s infrastructure has been systematically destroyed, with hospitals, schools, water and power supplies deliberately targeted. A new report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has found that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. The report continues: “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”

International bodies have also confirmed that Israel is deliberately obstructing the entry of food into Gaza and that, as a result, there is an ongoing famine in the territory.

The horrors of this war have shocked public opinion around the world, leading to a powerful global mass solidarity movement which has become too big to ignore. This has prompted governments in the West to reconsider their position on Palestinian statehood.

China condemns Israel’s brazen attack on Qatar

China has strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of Qatar on September 9.

Speaking at a September 11 meeting of the United Nations Security Council called by Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia, and held in the presence of the Prime Minister of Qatar as well as senior representatives of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ambassador Fu Cong described the attack as being, “in flagrant violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security, international law and the UN Charter, and efforts to achieve peace. China resolutely opposes this and strongly condemns such an act.”

He added: “It is well known that Qatar, as an important mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, has made great efforts to promote the ceasefire and restore peace in Gaza, which has been highly appreciated by the international community. We note that on September 7, the US put forward a new ceasefire proposal and claimed that Israel had agreed to it. However, just two days later, a Hamas delegation discussing the ceasefire proposal was attacked by Israel. Such an act of bad faith, irresponsibility, and deliberate sabotage of the negotiations is indeed despicable.”

Referring to the United States in particular, Ambassador Fu stated: “We would like to advise these major countries, in the interest of regional peace and stability, to take a fair and responsible stance and play a constructive role along with the international community in promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and in easing tensions in the region.”

He also said that: “The Gaza conflict has been going on for almost two years, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe that is appalling and unprecedented in nature. During this period, we have witnessed over and over again the violation of international law and the undermining of the basic norms of international relations. The world should not return to the law of the jungle, and the Middle East should not remain in a state of perpetual war.”

The previous day, at the regular press conference given by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Spokesperson Lin Jian was asked by China-Arab TV for China’s response to the attack. He replied:

“China strongly condemns the attack yesterday in Doha, Qatar and firmly opposes Israel’s violation of Qatar’s territorial integrity and national security. We are deeply concerned that the attack could lead to further escalation in the region and disapprove of the actions taken by relevant parties to deliberately jeopardise Gaza ceasefire talks. Use of force will not bring peace to the Middle East. Dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out. It will soon be two years since the conflict broke out in Gaza. China strongly calls on relevant sides, especially Israel, to make an effort to end the fighting and resume talks, instead of the other way around.”

As a follow up, Global Times requested comment on reports that Israel gave the United States prior notice of its attack. Lin Jian replied:

“We are deeply concerned over relevant reports. Israel’s air strike on Hamas targets in Doha severely violated Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security and will escalate the tensions in the region. This has everything to do with the deeply tilted position of certain non-regional country on the Middle East issue. We urge certain major country to act in the interest of regional peace and stability, adopt a just and responsible stance, and work with the international community to play a constructive role for stopping the conflict and easing the tensions.”

A few days later, on Tuesday 16 September, the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council held an urgent debate regarding Israel’s attack, at the request of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Chen Xu, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, delivered a speech pointing out that Israel’s attack on Qatar constitutes a blatant violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security, contravenes international law and the UN Charter and undermines peace efforts. Global Times reports:

“Chen emphasized that the abuse of force is not the solution to resolving issues. China calls on all relevant parties, especially Israel, to make more positive efforts to cease hostilities and resume negotiations, earnestly fulfill their obligations under international human rights law and humanitarian law, and respect the right to life of people in neighboring countries. China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, ending the conflict, and easing regional tensions, Chen stated.”

The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Remarks on the Situation in the Middle East by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Emergency Briefing

President,

At the UN Security Council and on the streets of Taipei, Chinese people speak out for Palestine

China has firmly condemned the Israeli government’s genocidal plan to reoccupy Gaza.

Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting on August 10, Ambassador Fu Cong said that: “The Gaza conflict has persisted for 22 months, leading to over 61,000 civilian deaths and resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe… Given the urgency at hand, the international community, including the Security Council, must take all necessary actions before a greater disaster unfolds.”

He then put forward ‘four musts’:

Any attempt to occupy Gaza must be firmly opposed. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an integral part of the Palestinian territory. Any action that seeks to alter its demographic and territorial structure must be met with utmost rejection and resistance.

The illusion of military supremacy must be abandoned… The country with significant influence over the parties must uphold a just and responsible stance and take concrete steps to push forward a ceasefire. [Referring to the United States, which was alone among Security Council members in refusing to criticise Israeli actions.]

The humanitarian disaster in Gaza must be alleviated. Gaza is on the verge of famine, with nearly 200 people having already died of starvation. Israel issued forced evacuation orders one after another, affecting over 87% of the Gazan territory and repeatedly displacing more than 1.9 million people. The lives of two million Gazans must not be the sacrifice of the war. The weaponisation of humanitarian supplies is unacceptable. The collective punishment of the Gazan people is unacceptable. Attacking civilians and humanitarian workers as they search for supplies is equally unacceptable.

The prospect of the two-State solution must be reinvigorated. Implementing the two-State solution is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question.

Meanwhile, on August 3, the Middle East Monitor, citing the Andalou News Agency, reported that hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists in Taipei, capital of China’s Taiwan, banged pots and pasted mock banknotes smeared with red dye symbolising blood on Israeli and Taiwanese separatist flags outside Taiwan’s “Foreign Ministry”. They accused Taipei’s envoy to Israel of pledging money to a health centre inside an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank and demanded that the Taiwan authorities halt all financial assistance to Israel. The website noted that Taiwan, “has deepened ties with Israel since the Gaza war erupted nearly two years ago. It has launched a parliamentary friendship group, donated $500,000 to Israeli medical patrols, opened a reciprocal working-holiday program, as well as encouraged technology and trade cooperation.”

The Taiwan International Workers Association, which fights for the rights and interests of migrant workers on the island, says that several Taiwanese firms supply components used in American and Israeli weapons systems.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese UN Mission and by Middle East Monitor.

Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong on the Palestinian-Israeli Issue at the UN Security Council Briefing

President,

China supports the initiative of the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece, and Slovenia to convene this meeting. We also thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Mr Ramesh Rajasingham for their briefings.

Boris Johnson plays the fool in Taiwan with provocative remarks against China and Palestine

Serial buffoon and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently visited China’s island province of Taiwan, where, participating in the Ketagalan Forum, a security confab, he made a series of absurd and provocative remarks, not only encouraging the separatist forces seeking to divide China but even going so far as to claim that Taiwan has a “far more robust” claim to statehood than Palestine.

Posting on X/Twitter, our co-editor Carlos Martinez aptly described Johnson as a clown and noted, “the closer parallel is actually between Taiwan and Israel. Both are essentially colonial projects designed to facilitate US power projection and to undermine Global South sovereignty.

“As Mao Zedong said in 1965, ‘Israel and Taiwan are bases of operation for imperialism in Asia. They created Israel for the Arabs and Taiwan for us. They both have the same objective.’

“And it’s no coincidence that Taiwan consistently supports Israel whereas China consistently supports Palestine. [Taiwan even made a big show recently of donating to illegal and fascist settlers in the occupied West Bank.]

“The correct anti-imperialist position is therefore: One China, Free Palestine.”

In a commentary, the website Middle East Monitor called out Johnson for “dismissing the UK’s historic responsibility for Palestinian statelessness and misrepresenting norms around international recognition of states.” It added:

“Johnson’s comments contradict the legal and diplomatic realities. As of August 2025, Palestine is recognised by… a majority of UN member states and the overwhelming majority of states in the Global South. By contrast, Taiwan is recognised by just 12 countries, with most of the international community upholding the One-China policy.

“In a column for the ‘Daily Mail’, Johnson accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of capitulating to ‘Hamas propaganda’ and described the move to recognise Palestinian statehood as ‘craven and pathetic.’

“Yet Johnson’s framing has been criticised for omitting the fact that Palestine’s right to statehood is affirmed in numerous UN resolutions, and that its pursuit of self-determination predates the formation of Hamas in 1987. It has further been pointed out that Israel’s borders remain undefined under international law, as claims to territory beyond the 1967 Green Line have been consistently rejected by the UN Security Council and ruled unlawful by the International Court of Justice.

“Palestinians and legal scholars have pointed to Britain’s own colonial history as a direct cause of Palestinian dispossession… Palestinians view the UK as bearing a direct historical responsibility for creating the conditions that have led to decades of occupation, apartheid, and now genocide in Gaza.”

Bob Vylan at Glastonbury – A lawyer’s view from Hong Kong

We are pleased to republish the following article, which originally appeared in China Daily, in which Grenville Cross recaps the furore which ensued at the Glastonbury music festival in England after punk rock duo Bob Vylan gave expression to the sentiments shared by the overwhelming majority of the many thousands of people present, who stood as one in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel’s genocidal war of aggression.

Grenville writes: “Although Bob Vylan must have been surprised by the reaction, they were not cowed. In an Instagram statement, they denied they were ‘the number one threat to world peace’. They did not advocate the death of any group, Jewish or otherwise, but were ‘for the dismantling of a violent military machine’ that had ‘destroyed much of Gaza’.”

In the measured terms befitting a senior lawyer, he adds: “If, however, Bob Vylan’s critics had shown some sense of perspective, they might have had more credibility,” before going on to itemise a series of Israeli atrocities and noting:

“Although the Gaza Health Ministry, on June 25, reported 56,200 Palestinian dead since October 2023, the first independent survey of deaths, reported last month by the journal Nature, estimated almost 84,000 Palestinians had died. The study, posted on the preprint server medRxiv on June 27, revealed that over half of the victims were women aged 18 to 64, children, or individuals over 65 years old.”

What this means, he notes, is that Bob Vylan’s critics “treat a chant as far graver than daily killings in Gaza, about which they are silent.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he writes, “should focus on bringing Netanyahu to justice. The UK is a signatory to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC [International Criminal Court], and is obliged to execute its arrest warrants… Starmer’s duty is clear, and he must uphold British honour, even if it upsets the US. It is Netanyahu who should be in the dock, not Bob Vylan or the BBC. Global justice must finally prevail.”

Ian Grenville Cross GBS, SBS, SC joined the Attorney General’s Chambers of Hong Kong as Crown Counsel in 1978. He served as the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions of Hong Kong from 1990 to 1997, and as the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from 1997 to 2009. In 1974, he was called to the Bar of England & Wales by the Middle Temple and to the Bar of Hong Kong, in 1981. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990, becoming Senior Counsel in 1997. He is the Vice Chairman (Senate) of the International Association of Prosecutors.

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is held annually in Somerset, the United Kingdom. Many musicians showcase their talents, although this year the audience got rather more than it expected.

On June 28, when the punk rock duo Bob Vylan performed, the rapper, Pascal Robinson-Foster, deviated from the script. Referring to the Israel Defense Forces’ activities in the Gaza Strip, he chanted “death, death to the IDF”, which the BBC livestreamed. When they chanted “Free! Free!”, the crowd responded: “Palestine!”

BBC’s director-general Tim Davie decided the duo’s set should not be made available to watch on demand, although the chant remained on iPlayer for five hours.