Sino-Israel Relations: Opportunities and Challenges

The visit by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Beijing last January did not create major shockwaves in Israel or in China, but it indicated a thawing of the frosty relations that have existed since Israel canceled the Phalcon deal in 2000. This is a matter of no small importance, since the increase in China’s presence in the Middle East and the international arena obliges Israel to consolidate its ties with this Eastern power. However, strengthening relations with China entails challenges that Israel has not always met successfully. The crux of the problem is dealing with a dominant actor that lives and breathes a non-Western culture, and whose goals and moves are shrouded in secrecy: it is hard to know what its aims are, how it behaves, the nature of its relations with other actors, and its attitude towards Israel. Insights of this sort, which Israel has acquired in relation to the United States and European countries, are also necessary to understanding China. Without them, Israel may overlook valuable potential, and may even pay a considerable price for missed opportunities. This article aims to present the common interests of the two countries, and to suggest ways whereby Israel can enhance its relations with China.