'The mask has slipped' Tuvia Gering on China, Israel and Hamas
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When China brokered a historic detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran earlier this year, it seemed that a new phase in world history \\u2013 and certainly in Chinese foreign policy \\u2013 had opened up. Instead of the US being a policeman of the world, it was the rising power, China, that was stepping into that role. Whereas Chinese foreign policy had previously only really cared about promoting trade and silencing dissidents, it seemed that perhaps, now, Beijing was taking a more leadership role in global diplomacy and security issues.
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\\nAnd yet the events of the last week and China\\u2019s response to them have shown that perhaps the country isn\\u2019t ready for that responsibility just yet. In response to the horrors unfolding in Israel and later Gaza, Beijing has given only lukewarm statements, calling for 'relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians'. At no point has it condemned Hamas by name.
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\\nSo what does this mean for China\\u2019s grander ambitions in the Middle East? With me to discuss is Tuvia Gering. During peacetime, his full time role is as a researcher on China and the Middle East, with the Israeli thinktank the Institute for National Security Studies and he is also a nonresident fellow in the Atlantic Council.
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\\nBut in the last week, as with all Israelis, his life has been changed forever. He\\u2019s now been called up for active duty.
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\\nWhat you\\u2019re about to hear is an incredibly well informed but raw contribution from an expert whose research interests have come crashing into his real life.
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\\nAnd yet the events of the last week and China\\u2019s response to them have shown that perhaps the country isn\\u2019t ready for that responsibility just yet. In response to the horrors unfolding in Israel and later Gaza, Beijing has given only lukewarm statements, calling for 'relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians'. At no point has it condemned Hamas by name.
\\n
\\nSo what does this mean for China\\u2019s grander ambitions in the Middle East? With me to discuss is Tuvia Gering. During peacetime, his full time role is as a researcher on China and the Middle East, with the Israeli thinktank the Institute for National Security Studies and he is also a nonresident fellow in the Atlantic Council.
\\n
\\nBut in the last week, as with all Israelis, his life has been changed forever. He\\u2019s now been called up for active duty.
\\n
\\nWhat you\\u2019re about to hear is an incredibly well informed but raw contribution from an expert whose research interests have come crashing into his real life.