There has been a dramatic decrease in the criticism of Israel by the People’s Republic of China, and there are even unofficial relations between China, and Israel, but there has been no change at the official level regarding possible establishment by China of formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
The assessment was presented by Dr. Yitzhak Shichor of the Hebrew University’s Department of East Asian Studies at an international workshop on China and Japan held earlier this month at the university’s Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace.
The Chinese press is now reporting about events in Israel more objectively and with less hostility than previously, he said. There has also been a change in what they say about Israel’s right to exist, he noted. This was never denied in the past, but now Chinese officials are supporting this right openly and even talking about a just, all round solution to Middle East problems, which will also take Israel into consideration, said Shichor.
Shichor also noted that China has recently become the greatest supplier of weapons and military spare parts in the Middle East, and one of the reasons for China’s lack of interest in diplomatic relations with Israel is that it does not want to harm the military and strategic relations which have been so carefully cultivated with a number of countries in the Middle East.
JAPAN’S ATTITUDE TOWARD ISRAEL
Dr. Ben-Ami Shillony of the Hebrew University’s Department of History surveyed Japan’s attitude toward Israel and the Middle East. Not having any great power ambitions, Japan is influenced by three main factors with regard to the Middle East: its dependence on Middle Eastern oil; its pro-Western orientation; and its view of the Soviet Union as its main potential enemy.
Japan’s policy in the Middle East has been one of support for the Arabs without harming Israel, and of keeping its relations with Israel in “low profile,” said Shillony. He noted that Israel does not have a very positive image among the Japanese public and said this was the result of unsympathetic media presentation.
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