China Rejects Israel’s Annexation of Parts of the Occupied West Bank

China rejects the endeavors of Israel’s far-right government to annex large swaths of the occupied territories designated to be part of the future Palestinian state, a Chinese diplomat told the Palestine News & Information Agency (WAFA) in an interview. The Chinese ambassador to Palestine, Guo Wei, stated that his country rejects Israel’s annexation of occupied West Bank lands and of any other unilateral measures that undermine peace and stability.

Members of a Chinese anti-epidemic expert medical team to Palestine attend a departure ceremony at Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing, southwest China, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, just prior to its departure for Palestine. The team, organized by China's National Health Commission, left Chongqing for Palestine, where it helped Palestinians in the West Bank in their fight against COVID-19, and returned to China on June 18, after having successfully completing its mission.

Members of a Chinese anti-epidemic expert medical team to Palestine attend a departure ceremony at Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing, southwest China, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, just prior to its departure for Palestine. The team, organized by China’s National Health Commission, left Chongqing for Palestine, where it helped Palestinians in the West Bank in their fight against COVID-19, and returned to China on June 18, after having successfully completing its mission. (Photo: Xinhua)

The ambassador reiterated Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call at a recent video conference conducted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a just and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine and stressed the centrality of the Palestinian question.

“The Palestine question has always been at the core of the Middle East issue and a just and reasonable solution is a prerequisite for the region’s lasting peace and security,” Foreign Minister Wang said during the UNSC virtual meeting, and added that China is deeply concerned about the continuing recent tension between Palestine and Israel.

Guo highlighted the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal for settling the Palestine issue that states: (1) any deviation from international consensus on the Palestinian question should be avoided; (2) the “two-state solution” being the basis for international fairness and justice, as history cannot be reversed; (3) China supports the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the inalienability of the Palestinian people’s national rights; (4) Israel’s right to exist should be fully respected and relevant UN resolutions and the principle of “land for peace” should be observed and reaffirmed.

The Chinese diplomat stressed that unilateral actions risk “aggravating differences and undermining trust” and that the only viable way forward is to resume an equal dialogue between the parties as soon as possible to rebuild mutual trust, defuse conflict and find a way to coexist peacefully.

Guo reiterated his country’s rejection of Israel’s move to annex its colonial settlements and maintained that it is an issue that should be resolved in the final-status negotiations. At the same time he reiterated the UNSC position that colonial settlement construction is a violation of international law, and emphasized that the issue of the occupied territories should be resolved as soon as possible based on the relevant UN resolutions.

The Chinese ambassador called for commitments by Israel and the Palestinians to peace talks as a strategic choice and that such negotiations need to be based on the outcomes of previous talks, and that both parties must refrain from any actions that risk inflaming tensions.

Guo urged the international community, particularly the influential states, to continue to support the Palestinian question and place it at the core of the international agenda, while taking an objective and fair stance and making sincere and real efforts for advancing the Middle East peace process.

The Chinese diplomat addressed President Mahmoud Abbas’ initiative to convene an international peace conference based on relevant UN resolutions to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state, saying that China supports Abbas’ initiative, and emphasized that Palestine’s humanitarian and economic issues should not be ignored, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. He also called for Israel to fully remove the crippling blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006.

Highlighting Palestinian-Chinese longstanding friendship, Guo stressed that China would remain a true friend to the Palestinian people, noting that it would always care about the Middle East peace process, adhere to international justice and support any efforts conducive to de-escalating tensions there.