In this edition of the ChinaMed Observer, we take stock of the Egyptian media’s coverage of China's position on the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting on November 20 in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a delegation of ministers from the Arab and Muslim world provided the Egyptian press with an opportunity to further reflect on this issue.

Firstly, we will outline Egyptian reporting of China's diplomatic efforts regarding the ongoing war. Subsequently, we will focus on Egyptian expectations and concerns surrounding China’s potential role brokering a ceasefire. Finally, we delve into how the Egyptian press seems to hope that China will seize the opportunity to assert itself as a preferable alternative to the United States in the region.

Overall, what emerges is that the Egyptian press depicts China as an important partner despite some reservations about the limits of its diplomatic capacity. China is described as having a real shot at regional leadership, a prospect that has captured the interest of Egyptian commentators and officials.

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A Commonality of Intent

Over the last month, the Egyptian press has often highlighted the statements from Chinese officials advocating for a ceasefire, emphasizing the urgency of supplying humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and stressing the need for a just solution to the Palestinian cause.

In the context of the meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi and a delegation of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers, Ahram, a newspaper controlled by the Egyptian Ministry of Information, reported on Wang’s statements and how he “further emphasized the need to implement the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly on the crisis in the Gaza Strip and the need for an immediate ceasefire to provide protection to Palestinian civilians." Referring to China's intention to convene a United Nations Security Council meeting, Ahram highlighted that Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to underscore during the meeting "the Arab and Islamic collective position that calls for an end to the war and support for the rights of the Palestinians”.^[1]

In Akhbar El-Yom, Egyptian journalist Mustafa Ahmad also reported on the Chinese Foreign Minister’s statements affirming that there will be no lasting peace in the Middle East without a just solution to the Palestinian cause.^[2] The newspaper Al Joumhouria, in an article published on November 21, highlighted the position of the Chinese President, who called for an "international peace conference" to elaborate a “quick, comprehensive, fair, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue”.^[3] In a November 30 article, Al-Joumhouria quoted the position paper on the conflict issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which Beijing reiterated its opposition to the forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population, emphasizing China’s historical support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.^[4]

The extensive coverage of China’s diplomatic efforts indicates that the Egyptian press is closely monitoring China’s role in this conflict, suggesting a degree of appreciation. Notably, China’s official positions align with those of the Egyptian government, as also the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly called for an end to hostilities and the offering of aid to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian tragedy; moreover, Cairo has emphasized several times that the entry of new refugees into Egypt would constitute a red line.^[5] This communality of intent is clearly expressed in an article by the Francophone newspaper Le Progres Egyptien on October 21. This newspaper, known for its pro-government stance, reported on the Egyptian Prime Minister’s appreciation for “China’s position in support of the Palestinian cause” and for “the convergence of views regarding the necessity of a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza”.

A Friendly and Powerful Country... But Maybe Not Really?

Egyptian praises for China’s position have raised expectations for corresponding actions. On occasion of the recent meeting in Beijing, Ahram reported on the statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (who was part of the delegation in Beijing) accusing Israel of violating international law. Shoukry also emphasized that it is the UN Security Council’s responsibility to protect international law, stating that Cairo expects Beijing to uphold its commitment in this regard.^[6]

These expectations are rooted in an awareness of China’s role as a permanent member of the Security Council and its temporary president. Al Wafd, a newspaper owned by the homonymous conservative-liberal opposition party, featured an article on November 10 reporting on a comment on the television program "Good Morning Egypt" by the former Egyptian ambassador, former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and current president of the Association of Arab Investors Gamal Bayoumi.^[7] According to the former ambassador, China is a friend of Egypt and has a positive perception of the country based on historical ties (Egypt was the first Third World country to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1956), as well as economic ones. "In my time," Bayoumi said, "China started investing in Egypt, then entered Africa, so let's reassure ourselves about the Chinese view because it is a friendly country."^[8] In addition to highlighting the two countries’ strong relations, Bayoumi emphasized how "China's position on the Palestinian issue is very important", in particular because of its veto power in the Security Council that "will block any decision against the Arab side or the Palestinian side."^[9]

A less optimistic perspective on China’s role was also presented in Al-Wafd by journalist Mustafa Al Sha'ir, who affirmed that Beijing “has difficulty taking a balanced position on the conflict" because it is torn between its official position of solidarity with the Palestinian cause – which dates back to the time of Mao Zedong – and its substantial economic partnership with Israel, "valued at almost a billion dollars."^[10] Against this background, it is interesting to note that Israeli and Iranian media also noted that China’s economic relations with all the parties involved may limit its willingness to take a side. In other words, it seems that all regional actors believe that China will not provide its full support to any of them because of its trade and investment interests with all sides.

Furthermore, the journalist highlighted the wave of online anti-Semitism on Chinese social media, which could significantly damage Chinese diplomatic efforts. Further complicating the situation are the accusations of genocide against Israel on the Chinese internet (which have even led the German Embassy in Beijing to issue a condemnation), as well as the stabbing of an employee of the Israeli embassy in Beijing.^[11] According to Al Sha'ir, these elements may jeopardize the possibility of China mediating the ongoing conflict.^[12]

The Great Opportunity

Despite skepticism about China’s ability to be an influential actor in this conflict, there seems to be hope among the Egyptian press that China will leverage the Hamas-Israel war to promote its vision of the global order. In the concluding remarks of the article analyzed just above, Mustafa al Sha’ri highlighted that, despite facing challenges, Beijing has a great opportunity to enhance its image, at a time when it is trying to position itself as a superior alternative to Washington on the international stage.^[13] In fact, Al Sha’ri noted that

"since the beginning of the year, China has proposed a vision of a global Chinese-led order, criticizing what it considers the failures of the United States in leading and dominating the world order".^[14]

The aspiration for a new global order led by China has found space across pro-governmental Egyptian press: the newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum, in a November 21 article covering a ceremony at the headquarters of the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association, reported the words of Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna, who spoke on the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative in the framework of international cooperation.^[15] For the minister, "China has presented to the world a new vision of cooperation, collective security, peace, based on development and stability, mutual benefits, and the pursuit of the common destiny of mankind to advance our world based on cooperation and understanding."^[16] Amna's speech concluded with him affirming his belief that "human globalization will inevitably replace globalization based on oppression, indecency, and the exploitation of others”; for him this future seems inevitable because "China has provided everything necessary for Third World countries to be partners in their development, security, and stability."^[17] This statement appears closely related to the latest developments of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the hope that China will succeed in asserting itself as an international actor able to change the prevailing norms.

Conclusions

To sum up, the comprehensive coverage of China’s diplomatic activity in this conflict suggests a dual sentiment in the Egyptian media. On one hand, there is appreciation for Beijing’s official position, which aligns closely with that of the Egyptian government. On the other hand, there is a degree of expectation regarding China’s ability to be an influential actor, particularly given its role as a permanent member and the temporary president of the UN Security Council.

The (few) doubts expressed about China's ability to implement effective political action are connected to the relevance of its economic partnership with Israel and the spread of anti-Semitic sentiment within the Chinese population, which could potentially hinder Beijing’s capacity to mediate an end to the war. Interestingly, there is a certain overlap between Egyptian, Israeli, and Iranian press regarding the constraints that China’s economic ties with the region place on its foreign policy. There seems to be an understanding they could possibly hinder China from adopting a “more balanced” position, which is, of course, defined differently in Cairo, Tehran and Tel Aviv.

However, despite these concerns, Egyptian perspectives seem to be tempered by the hope that Beijing will seize this opportunity to enhance its image. There is an expectation that China, by asserting itself as an alternative power to the United States, will make its vision of a new global order more appealing.