Wu Sike: "The US uses barbarians to subdue barbarians to control the Middle East", While China "pushes for peace"
Discourse Power | June 20, 2024
Greetings from Jerusalem,
In today’s edition, we have a translation of Ambassador Wu Sike's 吴思科 recent interview for Xinhua News Agency's biweekly Globe magazine 环球杂志, titled "New Trends in the Middle East" 中东变局新势.
Wu Sike’s bio:
Wu studied Arabic in the 1960s at the Beijing International Studies University (BISU).
Wu has held several distinguished roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Secretary of the General Office, and Director General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs.
He served as China's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and as Plenipotentiary to the League of Arab States from 2000 to 2007.
Later, Wu became a member of China’s top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and served on its Foreign Affairs Committee.
From 2009 to 2014, he was China's Special Envoy for the Middle East.
He is currently a senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China (RDCY).
Some quick thoughts before we dive in, if you are expecting to read anything groundbreaking or even thought-provoking, curb your enthusiasm.
But given the identity of the speaker and the platform, it is worth your time because Wu channels the Party’s voice, and it is a good overview of China's official position at this point. As an influential diplomat and scholar shaping China's foreign policy in the MENA region, many of these talking points were likely shaped according to his contributions.
You see, Wu is an ardent supporter of the two-state solution. He believes - like China’s newly appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia and until recently ambassador to Iran, Chang Hua - that the establishment of a Palestinian state “is the basic solution to solve all the problems in the Middle East.”
Reading such empty sloganeering from Chinese party-state sources sometimes feels like flipping through the scripts of Miss Universe Q&A session. Overflowing with vapid clichés, it's almost impressive how they manage to dodge the real issues affecting the region with such flair.
For example, the question of how China and the international community can ensure the newly established Palestinian state does not become a jihadist launchpad for Hamas terrorists to attack Israel or a corrupt base for Palestinian Authority incompetence is not addressed.
Not unlike the Chinese leadership, Wu fails to address Palestinian responsibility or agency for their current situation, nor does he address Hamas terrorism (although he does mention October 7).
As Wu demands an "unconditional and immediate ceasefire," he does not call for the "unconditional and immediate" release of the 120 Israeli hostages still tortured under Palestinian control in Gaza.
Another glaring omission is Iran, which is arming, funding, and training Hamas and other terrorist forces attacking Israel. It is only mentioned in the context of the "wave of reconciliation" that began in the China-brokered détente between Tehran and Riyadh in March 2023, "a source of great pleasure" for him.
What about Iran-backed Hezbollah's attacks on Israel's internationally recognized sovereign territory since October 8th, purportedly "in solidarity” with the Palestinians, and the looming prospect of a full-fledged war in Lebanon and the region? Perhaps this is not a” trend affecting the Middle East.”
Instead, Wu is sticking to Xi Jinping’s formulation: “The core issue that affects the region and the world and has persisted for the longest is the Palestine question.”
Other members of Iran's "axis of resistance" who have contributed to the chaos by targeting Israel and disrupting maritime trade, have been conveniently left out of the conversation as well.
As China prepares to host Hamas in Beijing for the second time, treating them as rational and legitimate political actors rather than the jihadi terrorists that they are, it’s worth remembering Wu's role in this relationship.
Back in 2012, while he was China’s special envoy, he wrote for the Party mouthpiece, People’s Daily:
"As a major Palestinian political force, Hamas has a loyal following. Palestinian-Israeli peace talks will be difficult without Hamas' participation…Israel may want to approach internal Palestinian reconciliation with a positive and open mind, giving the Palestinian side time to reach a consensus among the various factions and develop a common plan for peace talks so that they can move forward on a more solid foundation.
”Among the requirements Israel set for Hamas to participate in peace talks were recognition of Israel's right to exist and renunciation of violence. These conditions can be met through negotiations and should not be used as a barrier to resume negotiations."
This quote brings to mind a cartoon of John Kerry from his heyday as a peace envoy:
In 2014, Wu became the first Chinese official to openly meet with senior Hamas officials in Qatar. His meeting took place during the 2014 Gaza War, which started after Hamas abducted and brutally murdered three Israeli teenagers and launched rockets at Israeli cities (sounds familiar?).
During this meeting, the stated goal of which was to "end the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict," Wu was notably chummy with former Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashal, and expressed that China “sympathizes with the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Wu's sympathies had run out by October 7. One week (!) after the worst massacre of Jews in our lifetime, Wu had the temerity to ask, "Do we have to wait for Israel to completely vent before we can start talking about peace?"
And that wasn't even the worst thing he said that day. He further stated in that interview, "I think the US Biden administration's reaction is first and foremost focused on the upcoming elections, where the Jewish bloc's influence is clear to all."
China’s Manichaean conception of good and evil, as expressed by Wu, is particularly grating: the US is invariably the villain, while China is painted as the paragon of “fairness and justice.”
According to Wu, China champions “multilateralism,” endorsing the UN and the Security Council as pivotal in conflict resolution, while the US insists on perpetuating the unipolar moment, disregarding international norms; China aligns with international consensus by supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, whereas the US stubbornly and “single-handedly” stands in the way.
After more than two years of excusing, funding, and arming Russia’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine - along with its ongoing bullying of the Philippines within its exclusive economic zone - China might convince someone other than itself that it’s "on the right side of history" by going all in on the Palestinians.
This “Cold War mentality” is further evidenced by Wu’s speech at RDCY's annual forum in February, in which he stated, "The Middle East is a strategic partner for our national rejuvenation, and it has the potential to become a strategic pillar for us in dealing with the great power competition."
I've already said more than enough, but I'll dive into some of Wu's points in a future essay I'm working on.
Thank you for reading,
Tuvia
Wu Sike: New Trends in the Middle East
Full translation from Ambassador Wu’s interview, published on June 13, 2024, by Xinhua News Agency biweekly Globe magazine 环球杂志 (link below):
The Globe: What would you say about the Middle East's standing in the world today? What perspective do you have on current hot-topic issues?
Wu Sike: The Middle East links the Atlantic and Indian oceans as well as Asia, Europe, and Africa. It is nestled at the crossroads of East and West, the "land of two oceans, three continents, and five seas," and its strategic location is pivotal.
The Middle East's natural propensity for war 兵家必争之地 dates back to antiquity. Since then, conflicts and competitions between different forces have played a significant role in shaping its history.
Against the backdrop of the great changes unseen in a century 百年未有的大变局, the Middle East serves as a gauge of the shifting tides on the international stage; its complex ethno-religious problems are attracting global attention.
Currently, the countries of the Middle East have heightened their overall sense of strategic autonomy [战略自主意识, i.e., decreased their reliance on the US]; they are expediting the execution of development strategies, and are investigating new paths to achieve innovative and self-sufficient development.
There have long been hotspots in the Middle East. The core issue that affects the region and the world and has persisted for the longest is the Palestine question.
The dramatic escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since October 7 has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the flames of war are still raging.
It is alarming and upsetting that all sides have kept failing to advance a ceasefire and put an end to hostilities. We are all troubled by the internal conflicts in some of the region's countries, such as Sudan, Yemen, and Libya, which urgently require resolution.
The Globe: How is the current state of affairs in the Middle East perceived internationally, particularly in terms of disparities in perception?
Wu Sike: The current situation in the Middle East reflects the contradiction between unilateralism and multilateralism: should the UN's role be elevated or should it be cast aside and an entirely different approach be adopted 另搞一套?
The majority of nations support the UN taking the lead in resolving the Middle East conflict and supporting the implementation of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions related to the region. However, the US obstruction has prevented the UN and Security Council from carrying out their mandates.
Concurrently, Israel has disregarded UN and Security Council resolutions and persisted in its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, all with the backing and patronage of the United States.
The principal demands of the majority of the parties involved and the international community are an early ceasefire and an end to the fighting.
In the hopes of bringing an end to the bloody conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Slovenian National Assembly voted in favor of the State of Palestine's formal recognition on June 4. Norway, Spain, and Ireland followed suit on May 22.
Before that, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, and other countries recognized the State of Palestine.
The recent "wave of recognition" 承认潮 of the Palestinian State, which has long been hampered by US obstruction, reflects the fact that more countries have stood on the side of fairness and justice, reflecting the will of the people in the international community.
This "wave of recognition" could be what's needed to salvage the two-state solution and will encourage more interested countries to "take a step forward."
American Hegemony Is Losing Favor
The Globe: How do you perceive the influence of foreign forces in the Middle East, and what is the overarching theme 主要脉络?
Wu Sike: The Middle East is Europe's immediate neighbor. From the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th, it was the sphere of influence of European powers such as the United Kingdom and France.
During the Cold War period following the end of World War II, it was the frontline of the US and the Soviet Union's struggle for global hegemony. Following the dissolution of the USSR and the conclusion of the Cold War, the US emerged as the only superpower in control of affairs in the Middle East.
In the 21st century, America has transformed the Middle East into the primary battlefield for "counter-terrorism." It has fought two wars in the region: one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Its alleged "democratic transformation" 民主改造 of the Middle East has left the region in a state of constant conflict and turmoil while also severely weakening its power, both soft and hard.
The US has reduced its commitments in the Middle East in recent years as part of a shift in its global strategy. However, it will not be leaving the region entirely. The US has adopted the tactic of "using the barbarians to subdue the barbarians" 以夷制夷 to maintain control over the Middle East; this is the primary external cause of the unrest in the region.
Middle Eastern nations now have more strategic autonomy as a result of the growth of emerging economies, and multifaceted diplomacy is a popular approach.
America's status as the "sole super-hegemon" 一超独霸 has progressively waned, and its grip in the Middle East is weakening. The Middle East remains a crucial hub for US foreign policy. To preserve its influence, the US nevertheless maintains several military installations and tens of thousands of military personnel in the Middle East.
Russia's involvement in the Middle East is comparatively limited due to the constraints imposed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Nonetheless, people are still paying attention to its actions.
The Globe: What are the different interests or attributes of Japan, India, and other nations that have recently joined the Middle East as active participants? How much of an impact do they have?
Wu Sike: As major energy consumers in the Middle East, Japan, and India have always prioritized the development of relations with Middle Eastern countries. For Japan, the Middle East remains a significant market.
In recent years, Japan has sought to become a political major power, increasing its attention and investment in the Middle East. India, as a close neighbor of the Middle East, has prioritized the region in its quest to become a global power, proposing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) with the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and other countries. In my opinion, Japan and India's role in the Middle East is primarily economic, with limited political influence.
The Globe: In general, how would you rank the "Middle East chess game" and how would you adjust to its underlying conditions 其背后又是怎样的形与势?
Wu Sike: Peace, stability, and development in the Middle East are not only in the interests of regional countries but also beneficial to global peace and development. A major power such as the US ought not to participate in a "zero-sum game."
Sadly, the US has consistently flouted international law and applied double standards to the Middle East conflicts to preserve its hegemonic status. The UN-led international system has been severely undermined as a result of this, and the norms of international relations and the collective security mechanisms of the major powers have been seriously undermined time and again.
Even Washington's European allies have recently distanced themselves from it at multilateral events like the United Nations, and the country's hegemonic actions are losing favor both domestically and abroad. But with the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe, the US continues to use all available tools to fan the flames and stir up conflicts in the Asia-Pacific, which calls for extreme vigilance.
Dialogue and Exchanges Promote Peace and Development
The Globe: What do the Middle East and the international community expect from China regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Wu Sike: China has a long history of friendly exchanges with Middle Eastern countries. Mutual respect, mutual assistance, equality and mutual benefit, tolerance, and mutual understanding are distinguishing characteristics of China's relations with the Middle East, which have grown stronger over time.
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been well received in the Middle East, and China's three major initiatives - the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) - are especially relevant to addressing the region's development deficit, security deficit, and governance deficit.
Since the outbreak of the current round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China has maintained close communication with the parties involved and has actively participated in UNSC consultations. It has been doing its utmost to urge for peace, facilitate talks 劝和促谈, and push for a cooling of the situation.
China's logic in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been consistent, from calling for a humanitarian ceasefire to promoting a political solution through dialogue to repeatedly emphasizing that the fundamental way out of the Israeli-Palestinian issue lies in the implementation of the "two-state solution," namely to safeguard the interests of humanity and peace, as well as to uphold fairness and justice.
China sees the ongoing tragedy of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a test of human conscience and urges the international community to take action 有所作为. War cannot last indefinitely, justice cannot be absent forever, and the two-state solution cannot be shaken arbitrarily.
China firmly supports the creation of a fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and the convening of a larger, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference.
The current situation in Gaza is not sustainable. The international community is in agreement that there should be an immediate, unconditional ceasefire; that improving the humanitarian situation should be given high priority; and that the lives of innocent civilians should not be in danger.
China will continue to stand firm with Arab countries in the pursuit of justice and the early realization of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
Promoting dialogue and exchange is not an easy task, and peace talks will not be completed overnight. China will maintain contact with regional countries and parties while also becoming more involved in regional conflict resolution.
The Globe: What lessons can the world learn from the Middle East's ongoing conflicts and hotspots? Please discuss it in light of your personal experience.
Wu Sike: It's unfortunate that the Middle East, which should have been a fertile land for development, is in a constant state of war. Peace, development, and an improvement in people's standard of living are goals shared by the nations and people of the Middle East and the international community.
This basic principle should guide the development of a new type of international relations, as well as the interaction of different civilizations and cultures. The purpose is to alleviate and resolve conflicts and contradictions and move forward hand in hand.
The Middle East has frequently seen turmoil and disaster as a result of some of the West's Middle East policies, which have included forcing regime change through economic means, manipulating things by exploiting ethnic tensions, and using so-called "democratic" means to promote multiparty systems and privatization. The Middle East's prolonged suffering is proof that this course is unfeasible. Middle Eastern countries can only maintain their success by forging their own developmental paths.
China has consistently advocated for a political solution to regional disputes through dialogue. I have worked with all Middle Eastern parties throughout my decades-long diplomatic career, urging them towards peace and facilitating talks 劝和促谈, which is the fundamental component of China's Middle East diplomacy.
We have persisted in trying to mediate between nations that are embroiled in conflict with one another to make peace. That two significant Middle Eastern nations, Saudi Arabia and Iran were able to reconcile last year with China's encouragement is a source of great pleasure to me. This helped to spark a "wave of reconciliation" and gave the region new hope for stability and prosperity.
Link: http://www.news.cn/globe/2024-06/13/c_1310777904.htm
Discourse Power is written by Tuvia Gering, a researcher at the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Israel-China Policy Center at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub. Any views expressed in this newsletter, as well as any errors, are solely those of the author. Follow Tuvia on X @GeringTuvia