China’s Increasingly Active Role in Middle East Mediation

In recent years, China has capitalized on opportunities presented by global conflicts to assert its leadership in international diplomacy, particularly by positioning itself as a key mediator in peace negotiations. This strategic shift has allowed China to strengthen its diplomatic standing, boosting its prestige as a great power and asserting its influence in regions where the United States finds itself constrained. The Middle East, with its complex and long standing conflicts, has become a primary arena where Beijing is wading into the art of mediation.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in late September 2024, focusing on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. His remarks emphasized the prolonged nature of the violence, noting, “This round of Israel-Palestinian conflict has already continued for more than 300 days and nights... each day the war continues, more citizens needlessly die.”

Wang further underscored China’s historical and strategic involvement in the region, stating, “China is a strategic partner of the Middle East family. All along, it has been a constructor of Middle Eastern peace, a facilitator of Middle Eastern stability, and a contributor to Middle Eastern development.” The speech garnered significant international attention, highlighting China's efforts to position itself as a peace broker in the global arena.

A more notable step in China's Middle East diplomacy occurred on July 23, 2024, when Wang hosted 14 Palestinian factions for reconciliation talks, resulting in the historic Beijing Declaration. This meeting marked a diplomatic highlight for the Palestinian liberation movement, signaling China’s deepening involvement in one of the region’s most intractable conflicts. Facilitated by Wang, the Beijing Declaration called for an end to Palestinian internal divisions and emphasized the importance of unity in advancing the Palestinian cause. It was stressed that only by speaking with one voice could Palestinians garner the necessary international support to achieve their goals.

The Beijing Declaration laid out a three-step initiative aimed at addressing the Palestinian issue: 1) achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza; 2) facilitate post-war governance in Gaza under the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestinians;” and 3) push for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and work toward the two-state solution.

These steps aimed not only to address the immediate crisis in Gaza but also to set the stage for a broader peace settlement. As such, the Beijing Declaration is a clear signal of China’s desire for a larger role in mediation – with the international prestige that entails.

Wang called for the international community’s support to implement the Declaration, reiterating China’s longstanding commitment to Palestinian independence and a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict grounded in justice and international law.

China's pledge to back the Palestinian cause reflects its broader foreign policy goals in the region, where it seeks to carve out a distinct and active role in peace mediation, in contrast to the more interventionist and pro-Israel policies of the United States.

It’s too early to tell the effect of the Beijing Declaration, with some international stakeholders still skeptical and others calling it a major step toward regional peace. Regardless, the fact that China was able to bring together the various Palestinian factions for serious discussions is widely seen as a diplomatic victory for Beijing. Domestically, the move was reported as an achievement for China finding a positive role that influences complex geopolitical conflicts.

China’s mediation efforts are not limited to the Israel-Palestine conflict. In March 2023, Beijing successfully brokered talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two regional powerhouses with a history of rivalry and conflict. This marked a significant departure from China’s traditionally low-profile approach in the Middle East, which had previously been centered around economic engagement. The Saudi-Iran negotiations culminated in the normalization of relations between the two countries, showcasing China’s ability to play a key diplomatic role in a region where American influence has been waning

Historically, China benefited from U.S. security dominance in the Middle East, allowing Beijing to avoid direct involvement in the region’s conflicts. However, its recent diplomatic ventures, including the Saudi-Iran talks and the Palestinian reconciliation effort, signal a more hands-on approach.

China’s mediation offers a potential new pathway for conflict resolution, but the long-term effectiveness of these efforts will depend on the willingness of regional actors to uphold the agreements brokered by Beijing. The success of the Saudi-Iran normalization largely hinges on Iran’s willingness to scale back its support for proxy groups in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. While some progress, such as disengagement from the conflict in Yemen, appears feasible, broader de-escalation efforts face significant challenges due to entrenched regional policies and rivalries.

Despite China’s diplomatic successes, its growing involvement in Middle East peace mediation is fraught with challenges. Maintaining a neutral stance while balancing relationships with key regional players like Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia will be difficult. China’s deep economic ties with countries surrounding Israel, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, have led to perceptions that Beijing is aligning itself against Israel and the United States, Israel’s main security guarantor. Additionally, China’s close relations with controversial nations like Iran, Russia, and North Korea have further complicated its position in the region.

This perception has been reinforced by the emergence of discourse grouping together China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – known collectively as CRINK. Over the past month, CRINK has been widely featured in international media as a counterforce to Western powers, with Politico dubbing it the “new Axis of Evil.”

Whether China’s peace mediation efforts in the Middle East ultimately prove successful or not, these moves clearly demonstrate Beijing’s growing ambition to assert itself as a global player. Through its involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Saudi-Iran normalization, China is signaling its willingness to take on a more active role in resolving some of the world’s long standing disputes. Perhaps more importantly, Beijing positions itself an alternative source of geopolitical authority to the United States.

Other mediation attempts, however, show that China so far has avoided direct diplomatic conflicts or competition with Western powers while safeguarding its economic and security interests. In Mali peace negotiations, Dr. Lina Benabdallah from Stimson Center observed that despite limited economic stakes in Mali compared to other countries, Beijing mediated through indirect, creative strategies to avoid entanglements with powers like France.

China’s conflict mediation approach generally operates with two goals: high economic interests and low diplomatic risk. Benabdallah’s analysis underscored that China’s behavior in the Sahel reflects its broader mediation strategies, balancing between noninterference and proactive engagement. Beijing seeks a “harmonious intervention”: ensuring that China remains a neutral party without imposing solutions.

China’s rise as a peace mediator also exposes it to the same strategic dilemmas that have long plagued other global powers. Its ability to maintain neutrality while balancing its relationships with key players will be crucial to its continued success in the region. While the durability of these attempts is still to be seen, China gains more visibility internationally through its frequent and increasingly high-profile diplomatic efforts.