By Lawal Sale
In the 2nd session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi articulated China’s position in achieving lasting peace in the on-going Palestinian/Israeli conflict in Gaza
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), noted that the war has caused more than 100,000 civilian casualties, while countless bodies obviously remained buried under the rubble.
It is important to note that China, in its efforts at finding lasting solutions to the conflict, has repeatedly appealed to the international community to act swiftly to trigger immediate ceasefire and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the embattled residents of Gaza.
Wang Yi, in a recent interview with Aljazeera TV network, said that some of the measures, which China proposed, included the attainment of immediate ceasefire via the concerted efforts of all parties, just as the United Nations Security Council, not long ago adopted its first resolution demanding a ceasefire since the onset of the conflict.
WangYi emphasized that the resolution was legally binding and should be enforced effectively to actualize an unconditional ceasefire right away.
Recall that China, right from the beginning of the war, has been in the forefront of the campaign for immediate cessation of hostilities, release of hostages, while making repeated demands for the enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 2712 and 2720.
Besides, China welcomed and encouraged the spirited efforts of Egypt, Qatar and others to broker peace and mediate in the raging conflict.
As an integral part of solutions to the conflict, China called for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian assistance to Gaza at all times, while describing the proposed policy as a compelling and pressing moral obligation.
Beyond that, the Asian country firmly opposed the forced transfer of Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.
Wang Yi stressed that China would continue to work with the international community in efforts toward the enforcement of the UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire, civilian protection and sustainable delivery of humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza.
In its peacemaking efforts, China — a permanent member of the UN Security Council — has been consistent in warning against the apparent spillover of the conflict in the Middle East region, so as to forestall the situation from spinning out of control.
Wang Yi asserted that the escalation of the Iran-Israel crisis was the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict, adding that China had earlier called on all parties in the conflict to stay calm and refrain from actions that could aggravate the crisis and further escalate the conflict.
The Chinese foreign minister noted that another aspect of China’s concern in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict was the historical injustice perpetrated against the Palestinian people, saying that this must be promptly addressed, in order to tackle root causes of the conflict.
It is paramount to note that the Gaza catastrophe once again reflects the perpetual denial of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, which was the root cause of the decades-old Palestinian question.
To break the vicious cycle of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, experts in Middle East affairs underscore the need to eliminate the breeding of hate and extremism in the region, while promoting strategies that would engender lasting peace and give justice to the Palestinians in a pragmatic way.
The experts emphasize that the enforcement the two-state policy in the area, which would guarantee the evolution of a truly independent Palestinian state, would definitely bring about a political settlement of Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
China has pledged to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Middle East countries and the whole international community to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights.
The Asian country has also voiced support for internal reconciliation among different factions of Palestinian groups via dialogue, while supporting efforts to secure Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations (UN) at an early date.
China has particularly expressed support for the establishment of the independent State of Palestine, with “the Palestinians governing Palestine.”
Wang Yi succinctly articulated China’s position on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and its resolution.
He said: “We call for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a timetable and a roadmap for the two-state solution.”
The conference is “to promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, and to ultimately realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples,” he added.
Sale is an Abuja-based Global Affairs Analyst
(lawalsale@mail.ru)
