Can China Emerge as a Global Peace Broker? A Glimpse as it Hosts Palestinian and Ukrainian Delegations This Week

Middle Power Mediation: China’s Role in Palestinian and Ukrainian Conflicts China, a country renowned for its international influence and involvement in global issues, has been in the limelight recently for hosting Palestinian and Ukrainian delegations. Known for their capacity to dilute tensions and facilitate discussions, this move reveals China’s increasing ambition to become a key player in international conflict resolution and peace brokering. However, the question remains: can china truly play peace broker in global conflicts? Firstly, the nature of conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine fundamentally differs. The Palestinian issue stems from a prolonged territorial dispute between Palestine and Israel, steeped in historical, religious, and cultural entanglements. In contrast, the Ukrainian crisis is predominantly a political dispute revolving around Ukraine’s autonomy and its geopolitical alignment between Russia and the West. China’s involvement in the Palestinian issue is not entirely new. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has consistently reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. Hosting the Palestinian delegation amplifies China’s stance and commitment to facilitating negotiations between Israel and Palestine. This humanitarian approach, coupled with their political weight in the UN and strategic alliances, could potentially serve to mediate the conflict effectively. In the Ukrainian crisis, by contrast, China’s role is more complicated. China has strategic relationships to maintain with both Russia and Ukraine, and playing a peace broker might compromise these. However, China has shown its ability to leverage its economic and diplomatic relations to promote peaceful negotiations, as seen in its neutral stand, calling for a peaceful resolution without maligning either side. While China has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating these conflicts through dialogue, the country faces its own set of challenges. The effectiveness of China’s mediating role depends primarily on its ability to maintain neutrality and retain the trust of the conflicting parties. China’s willingness to uphold international law and norms, its diplomatic relationships, and the perceived motivations behind its actions also play significant roles in the process. Moreover, the success also depends on the readiness of the conflicted parties to accept and value China’s intervention. The Palestinian and Ukrainian delegations’ willingness to engage with China signifies a step in the right direction, but it will take more than this to achieve meaningful progress towards resolution. By hosting the Palestinian and Ukrainian delegations, China is demonstrating a commitment to becoming a more complex global player. Yet, the degree to which it can influence, mediate, and resolve these conflicts will