“For Palestinians and the Arab public, this wait-and-see approach risks eroding China’s credibility as a reliable alternative to Western influence. While the region remains in need of a development partner, it is also a theater of intense insecurity where states seek political partners/allies, not just economic investors. China’s reluctance to engage directly in conflict resolution, exemplified by its preference for joint initiatives with third parties like Pakistan, or its tendency to delegate responsibility to a deadlocked UN Security Council with regard to the Palestinian cause, suggests that while China is a major player, it has yet to assume the role of a decisive political stakeholder. This suggests that its current posture may eventually face a crisis of legitimacy among those who once viewed Beijing as a potential counterweight to the prevailing global and regional order.”

Amanda Chen (ChinaMed Project, T.wai) interviews Razan Shawamreh in the article “A Palestinian Perspective – The Weight of Expectation on China in the Middle East” on ChinaMed.