China tells Israel to stop ‘forced establishment’ of West Bank settlements

What the report says

China has called on Israel to stop and reverse what it described as the “forced establishment” of West Bank settlements, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry cited by Al Jazeera. The comments were made by Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Azerbaijan, where Wang was attending the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia summit in Baku as President Xi Jinping’s special representative.

According to the ministry statement, Wang said China has long viewed the Palestinian issue as a major historical injustice and reiterated Beijing’s support for a two-state solution. He also urged that access to the Gaza Strip be fully opened as an immediate humanitarian priority, warning against the spread of a wider crisis. Wang said China was prepared to work with the international community to encourage all sides to return to dialogue and pursue a political settlement.

The report places the exchange within China’s broader efforts to raise its profile in Middle East diplomacy. Al Jazeera noted that Xi visited Cairo in September and has recently spoken about regional security and opposition to outside interference. Beijing has also criticized US and Israeli strikes on Iran and has balanced closer ties with both Gulf states and Israel, while maintaining significant relations with Iran.

The developments highlight China’s attempt to present itself as a diplomatic player on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as the war in Gaza and tensions over settlements continue to shape regional politics.