The tragic events in Israel and Gaza started by the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group have unleashed a wave of terror reverberating around the globe. Given the historical support of Russia and Iran to groups and states targeting Israel, unanswered questions about outside involvement or links exist.
Because of Chinese support for Iran and Russia, we should examine Chinese firms’ links to key groups here.
Chinese military and security firms have a long history of working with Iran. Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE built major portions of Iran’s internet and mobile telecom network as well as an internet monitoring and security apparatus for authorities.
More recently, the ending of the arms embargo prompted Iran to enter into multiple agreements—with China, across a range of sectors but highlighting military and weapons cooperation.
Because Hamas enjoys the full support and backing of Iran, and Iran enjoys the full support and cooperation of China on security, weapons, and military programs, a clear link exists.
However, Chinese involvement in anti-Israeli forces runs deeper. Chinese weapons appear with alarming frequency in the hands of terrorists and outlaw states in the Middle East.
It’s worth emphasizing that no official records of Chinese exports to the Palestinians and the Hamas-led government exist and that Palestinian rockets come from Syria, Iran, or local sources but rely heavily on Chinese designs.
Although Israel worked to develop close ties with China, even to the level of raising significant concern in Israel over Chinese asset purchases and military trade, concern in Israel stems from China’s close military ties with Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and Hamas.
If China didn’t want its weapons designs launched against Israeli targets, it could restrict their use, with little doubt. That it chooses not to and continues to supply weapons to Iran, Syria, and others should make clear its stance to Israel.
All of this raises the larger question of how the United States, and separately Israel, should treat China within the unfolding of the Hamas-led war?
First, China’s support of Iran and Syria, with the downstream links to Hezbollah and Hamas, excludes any notion of support for Israel. While China sought to cultivate Israeli trade and political ties, the continued military support of Iran and Syria raised concerns in Israel even as it allowed some close ties with China. Beijing’s military support for countries and groups seeking to annihilate Israel demands greater scrutiny.
Second, Beijing supports not just enemies of Israel but also enemies of free and open societies around the world. Israel, proud to display itself as a bastion of liberal democracy in a region surrounded by hardened authoritarians, must realize the broader conflict taking place doesn’t involve only Jews and Israel but also democracy worldwide.
Third, just as Jews have suffered through the Holocaust and repeated attacks from neighbors, including the current war, Israel risks its reputation and material support by collaborating with a country that touts its concentration camps for Uyghurs as a model for the world.
Israel can maintain its moral high ground as well as prove its support for the human rights of Muslims by making public its concern about Uyghur concentration camps and attaching a tangible price to China’s continued policy of enslavement.
The tragic slaughter of innocent Israelis has laid bare the barbarity of Hamas, Iran, and others seeking to wipe Jews and the state of Israel from history. Israel can no longer remain unconcerned about the support that these groups receive from China and the threat that it poses to Jews and free people everywhere. Just as the United States must not waiver in the face of barbaric behavior, Israel must remain steadfast in dealing with those who threaten Israel. We can no longer ignore this evil.
