China Urges Israel to Halt and Reverse West Bank Settlements

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has directly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to cease and reverse the "forced establishment" of West Bank settlements, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry. The meeting took place in Azerbaijan.

During the discussion, Wang Yi conveyed that China has consistently viewed the Palestinian issue as the most significant historical injustice of this century. He emphasized that the "two-state solution" remains the appropriate path forward for resolution. Wang also stressed the immediate necessity of fully opening access to the Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian "catastrophe" from escalating.

China, Wang added, is prepared to collaborate with the international community to encourage all parties to resume dialogue promptly and pursue a political settlement. Wang is currently in Baku, Azerbaijan, attending the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, serving as the special representative of President Xi Jinping, as reported by China's state news agency Xinhua.

This call follows a broader initiative by China to reshape the Middle East's security order. In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Cairo and advocated for Middle East countries to resist external influence. This visit occurred amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict and China's efforts to expand its regional influence.

The discussions also touched upon the US-Israel war, with both leaders calling for "diplomatic solutions" to achieve a "comprehensive agreement to end the war," as stated by a spokesperson for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Earlier in March, China had criticized US and Israeli actions in Iran, demanding an immediate cessation of joint attacks. At that time, Wang informed his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, that the attacks on Iran were particularly concerning given the significant progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which included addressing Israel's security concerns, according to China's foreign ministry.

China has historically been a significant economic partner for Iran, being its largest trading partner and purchasing a substantial portion of its oil. In 2021, Beijing formalized a long-term "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" with Tehran. Concurrently, China has been strengthening ties with Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, maintaining its position as a key trade partner for both the US and Israel.