Abstract
The purpose of this article is trying to answer the following question: What else a State needs to consider, besides its international legal obligations, when developing its foreign policy? I hope to demonstrate how factors such as religion and realism affect a country’s foreign policy by using the case of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and China’s interactions with the two nations. China successfully adapt realistic attitude in making its middle-east policy. It supported Palestine for the ideology of anti-imperialism, but established relation with Israel for the need of national interest. In this article, I would give a general introduction of the history of China’s relation with Palestine and Israel, including several key incidents that carry great significance in this triangular relationship. Trough my introduction, I hope to demonstrate how religion and realism affects a nation’s foreign policies, as well as international law. I would discuss China’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of international relations. First, I will focus on the changes and evolvements of China’s relationships with Palestine and Israel throughout history, and briefly discuss what China has done in the past with the two countries. Second, I will introduce how Chinese society views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the end, proposals will be made for China’s future policy in the region.
Highlights
1.1 Introducing the ProblemWhat makes international law such a unique concept is that people has been expressing overwhelming doubts on its legal nature
The main reason for these skeptics is the fact that international law seems have no binding effect on sovereign states and a great power could carry out its own policy against its legal obligation without worrying the consequence
This article mainly relies on reports of news and events in history, books and articles regarding Middle East, as well as archival materials, including several UN resolutions
Summary
What makes international law such a unique concept is that people has been expressing overwhelming doubts on its legal nature. China successfully adapt realistic attitude in making its middle-east policy It supported Palestine for the ideology of anti-imperialism, but established relation with Israel for the need of national interest. At one point, Israel and Palestine was “black and white” for most of Chinese people Such cognition was soon to be changed when China adjusted its Middle East policy. China did not take it to the extent that it would fight against the “Jewish invasion” with Palestine side by side This attitude was the reflection of China’s realism philosophy in developing foreign policies. Our accusations against Israel were generally about its peace-breaking actions Another thing that held China back from fully supporting Palestine was many radical actions carried out by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The reason for such an arrangement was probably due to the fact that China still has little to offer for both sides, despite its eagerness to play a significant role in the region
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