The story of the war. While Beijing’s propaganda promises peace, it fuels anti-Semitism. In the People’s Republic of China, where the Chinese government’s propaganda position is clear, the wave of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment is growing on social media. But Chinese people weren’t always anti-Semitic

The Star of David next to the Nazi swastika marks the walls of Rome’s Jewish quarter. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz bends over and polishes two obstacles with his handkerchief on the 85th anniversary of “Kristallnacht”. German Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck reiterated how Israel’s security is a historical responsibility for Germany, in response to Hamas’ attacks on Israel and demonstrations in which ISIS flags were displayed in the German Federation. Following the resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the increasing number of victims in the Gaza Strip (in just one month it exceeded the threshold of 10 thousand deaths, mostly civilians), antisemitism has reawakened in Europe and around the world.

China is the responsible peacemaker of the conflict

A solution to the age-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict still seems far away. But there are those at the UN headquarters in New York who are already considering a plan to stabilize the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government believes it can eliminate Hamas from the Palestinian territory, fearing the idea of ​​invasion, which is rejected by the United States. The most immediate outcome is to achieve “de-escalation” as quickly as possible, followed by a two-state solution. In the meantime, a transition period will be required, which will be handed over to UN peacekeepers who are already in Gaza with various organizations (vital for the economic and humanitarian support of the Palestinian people). UN participation requires the green light of the Security Council and therefore the consent of Russia and China, which has not yet been received. China, which took over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, was one of 120 countries that voted in favor of the General Assembly resolution on the ceasefire in Gaza.

How does China react to the war between Israel and Gaza?

But even in this war scenario, as has been the case since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there are reasons that push the People’s Republic to take a faltering stance. China presents itself as a peace broker between historically armed countries in the Middle East region. Beijing has been a supporter of the Palestinians since the Maoist era, but has been cementing its proximity to Israel for decades over trade and economic opportunities. It is therefore not surprising that the Asian giant presents itself as a peacemaker, loyal to its historic principle of not interfering in the affairs of other countries, unlike what the United States would do, which, according to Beijing’s propaganda, fuels the conflict. fire. China’s stance is a response both to its ongoing rivalry with the United States, which is a major supporter of Israel and voted against a ceasefire at the United Nations, and to its desire to be seen as the most responsible global superpower.

What the Chinese media say

Chinese state media exploit the plight of the Palestinian people, accusing the United States of ignoring Israel’s response to Hamas attacks, while perpetuating stereotypes about Jewish control over American politics. The Biden administration has actually supported Israel’s military operation in Gaza and its goal of destroying the terrorist organization, and does not want a ceasefire, but humanitarian pauses such as the four-hour window per day it obtained from Israel. Tel Aviv on November 9, after days of pressure on the Israeli prime minister. And Beijing does not want to miss a good opportunity to blame Washington for centuries of colonialism, especially in order to improve relations with Arab countries.

Black gold connecting China to Iran and Hamas

In the People’s Republic, where anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment are increasing, the Chinese government’s propaganda stance is full of discussions on social media. State media reports, also shared on social networks, were enriched by numerous responses from Chinese users, including comments that spread anti-Semitic stereotypes and belittled the horrors of the Holocaust. The official social media account of the Israeli embassy in China was flooded with comments regarding the violent response of the Netanyahu government; Comparisons have been made between the atrocities committed by Israelis after October 7 and those committed by the Nazis during the Second Media War.

Along with growing attention to anti-Semitic sentiments and China’s role on the world stage and how calls for a peaceful solution conflict with US policies, Chinese netizens on Weibo as well as other Chinese social platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu are supporting the Palestinians. From where. The most positive interpretations of Palestine find strength in US pro-Israel policy, prejudices, and conspiracy theories involving Jews. What justifies support for the Palestinian cause is anti-colonial sentiment rooted in the history of the People’s Republic. Many netizens associate the Palestinian issue with China’s historical wounds of “one hundred years of humiliation”, such as the period of imperialism by Western powers and the Japanese occupation.

First love, then humiliation: What changed between Chinese and Israelis?

But the Chinese people (especially as a whole) have not always been anti-Semitic. In the past, Jews were highly respected by the Chinese, who praised their hard-working spirit and financial prowess. There are also historical connections. During World War II, thousands of Jews fleeing persecution in Europe took refuge in Shanghai and the northern city of Harbin. Both places were mentioned in the post-war debate about where to establish the Jewish state. Even today, the ruins of synagogues portray the persistence of Jews in the People’s Republic. However, something changed as nationalism became a growing sentiment during the presidency of Xi Jinping, whose policies allowed distrust of the West to arise and grow and conspiracy theories to spread on Chinese social media.

However, we are talking about a minority segment, not the majority of Chinese society. As we know, discussions on social media in the People’s Republic are controlled and supervised by the Cyber ​​Security Administration of China, the regulator of the digital space. But sometimes digital social networking platforms embrace self-censorship to reduce divisive discourse, talk about it as little as possible, and prevent extremism from spreading online. This is the case of tech giants Baidu and Alibaba, who have chosen to hide Israel’s name from their maps. In reality, the borders and toponymy of the Jewish State are available in navigation through the app but not on the web. A decision that confirms the need for technological platforms to hide information through tunnels created by algorithms, rather than deleting it, to avoid running afoul of Chinese government restrictions. However, the Communist Party’s intervention in the matter caused international condemnation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that “the relevant countries are clearly indicated” in the maps published by Chinese authorities. A statement that encouraged many Chinese users viewing the conflict to call for peace. Just like Beijing does, albeit for different reasons.

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