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{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Sino-Israeli|Israel|People's Republic of China}}
{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Sino-Israeli|Israel|People's Republic of China}}
The '''bilateral relations''' between the [[People's Republic of China]] and the [[State of Israel]] are complex and manifold. Israel was the first country in the [[Middle East]] {{citation needed|date=September 2013}} and one of the first in the world to recognize the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. However, due to China's initial refusal to recognise Israel, it was not until 1992 that normal diplomatic relations were established.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1116961.html "China marks 17 years with Israel"]. [[Haaretz]]. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2013.</ref> Since then, Israel and China have developed increasingly close commercial, military and strategic links.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Zhao Jun (ambassador)]]|title=Israel-Asia Center|url=http://www.israelasiacenter.org/#/china-60-zhaojun/4536794977|accessdate=6 October 2013}}</ref>
The '''bilateral relations''' between the [[People's Republic of China]] and the [[State of Israel]] are complex and manifold. Israel was the first country in the [[Middle East]] {{citation needed|date=September 2013}} and one of the first in the world to recognize the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. However, due to China's initial refusal to recognise Israel, it was not until 1992 that normal diplomatic relations were established.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1116961.html "China marks 17 years with Israel"]. [[Haaretz]]. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2013.</ref> Since then, Israel and China have developed increasingly close commercial, military and strategic links.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Zhao Jun (ambassador)]]|title=Israel-Asia Center|url=http://www.israelasiacenter.org/#/china-60-zhaojun/4536794977|accessdate=6 October 2013}}</ref>Israel maintains an embassy in [[Beijing]] and is planning to open a new consulate in [[Chengdu]], its third in mainland China.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/12/18/chinese-foreign-minister-visit-to-israel-clouded-by-terrorism-case-against-bank/ Chinese Foreign Minister Visit to Israel Clouded by Terrorism Case Against Bank]</ref>


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 20:12, 23 December 2013

Sino-Israeli relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and People's Republic of China

Israel
China

The bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the State of Israel are complex and manifold. Israel was the first country in the Middle East [citation needed] and one of the first in the world to recognize the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. However, due to China's initial refusal to recognise Israel, it was not until 1992 that normal diplomatic relations were established.[1] Since then, Israel and China have developed increasingly close commercial, military and strategic links.[2]Israel maintains an embassy in Beijing and is planning to open a new consulate in Chengdu, its third in mainland China.[3]

Background

Chinese navy docks in Israel

For some time after the 1949 Chinese revolution, the People's Republic of China was diplomatically isolated, because the United States and its allies (including Israel) recognized the Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) as the true government of China. During the 1955 Asian–African Conference, China expressed support for the Palestinian right of return, but refrained from denying Israel's right to exist and secretly pursued trade ties with the Israelis.[4] Until the 1980s, China refused to grant visas to Israelis unless they held dual citizenship and carried a passport of a country other than Israel.[5] However, following the Sino-Soviet split and China's 1979 establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States, China began to develop a series of secret, non-official ties with Israel.[6]

China and Israel secretly began building military ties in the 1980s during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, which both Israel and China opposed. They both supplied weapons to the Afghan mujahideen (Israel sending captured PLO weapons via the United States and Pakistan), and military cooperation between the two began in order to assist the Islamic resistance against the Soviets. China and Israel subsequently started exchanging visits of delegations of academicians, experts, businessmen and industrialists.[5] Reportedly, a large number of the tanks used in China's 1984 National Day parades were retrofitted by Israel from captured Six-Day War equipment.[6] China eased travel restrictions, while Israel reopened its consulate in Hong Kong (then under British administration), which would serve as the main point for diplomatic and economic contact between the two nations. In 1987 Israel’s Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, appointed Amos Yudan to set up the first official Government owned company (Copeco Ltd[7]) to establish and foster commercial activities between companies in China and Israel. The company was active till 1992, when official diplomatic relationships were announced between Israel and China.[5] [8] In the early 1990s, China joined a number of nations who established ties with Israel after the initiation of a peace process between Israel and the PLO in the early 1990s; it also desired to play a role in the peace process.

Development of bilateral relations

Benjamin Netanyahu and Matan Vilnai in China

In November 1991, the Defense Minister of Israel Moshe Arens was reported to have paid a secret visit to China and believed to have negotiated the establishment of ties and expansion of military cooperation. On January 23, 1992, the Foreign Minister of Israel David Levy paid a four-day visit to Beijing, preceding the formal establishment of ties. Both nations had maintained some trade links, which stood at USD 30 million in 1992. Since then, the annual growth in trade has averaged 40%.[9] Bilateral trade rose to USD 3 billion in 2005 and is projected to rise to USD 5 billion by 2008 and USD 10 billion by 2010.[9][10] China is Israel's largest Asian trading partner[9] and has sought Israel's expertise in solar energy, manufacturing robotics, irrigation, construction, agricultural and water management and desalination technologies to combat drought and water shortages.[5][11] In turn, Israel has imported high-tech products and manufactured goods from China. There are more than 1,000 Israeli firms operating in China as of 2010. In particular, Chinese firms play an essential role in the $10-billion kosher foods industry, with 500 factories across China producing kosher food for the American and Israeli markets.[6]

In 2007, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a high-profile visit to China to bolster trade and military cooperation and seek China's support over the conflict over Iran's nuclear proliferation.[10] In June 2012, Olmert's successor, Binyamin Netanyahu, was expected to visit China to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations;[12] however, this visit was ultimately cancelled.[13]

Despite their increasingly close relationship, China and Israel remain divided over the issue of Palestine, whose bid for independent statehood and United Nations membership is supported by China,[14] and Israel has also become the largest supplier of military technology to India, China's primary geopolitical rival in Asia.[15]

Military cooperation

Haifa base commander Brig. Gen. Eli Sharvit welcomes RADM Yang Jun-Fei to Israel

Israel and China began extensive military cooperation as early as the 1980s, even though no formal diplomatic relations existed.[16][17][18] Some estimate that Israel sold arms worth US$4 billion to China in this period.[16][17] China has looked to Israel for the arms and technology it wants but cannot acquire from either the United States or Russia. Israel has now become China's second-largest foreign supplier of arms (following Russia).[16] China has purchased a wide array of military equipment and technology, including communications satellites.[16] The building of military cooperation and trade has softened China's historic anti-Israeli policy over Palestine and Middle East issues.[16] China has become a vital market for Israel's extensive military industries and arms manufacturers.[16] Israel has also limited its cooperation with the Republic of China (Taiwan) in order to foster closer ties with the People's Republic of China.[16]

The US Defense Intelligence Agency compiled evidence that Israel had transferred missile, laser and aircraft technology to China in the 1990s. Israel was set to sell China the Phalcon, an airborne early-warning radar system, until it was forced by the United States to cancel the deal.

On 19 October 1999, the Defence Minister of China, Chi Haotian, flew to Israel and met with Ehud Barak, the then-Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Israel. The two men discussed military relations and made several high-level arrangements, including a $1 billion Israeli-Russian sale of military aircraft to China.[19] On 25 May 2011, the Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, Admiral Wu Shengli, made an official visit to Israel, meeting with Barak and Rear Admiral Eliezer Marom.[20]

On 14 August 2011, General Chen Bingde, Chief of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department, arrived for an official visit to Israel,[21] scheduled for three days.[22] He came a guest of the Israeli Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who received him with an honor guard at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.[23] The visit came after Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s visit to China in June,[21] the first visit of a defense minister to the country in a decade. Bingde’s visit was part of a tour that included stops in Russia and Ukraine.[23]

On 13 August 2012, vessels from the PLA Navy's 11th escort fleet, led by Rear Admiral Yang Jun-fei, anchored at Israel's Haifa naval base for a four-day goodwill visit to mark 20 years of cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the PLA.[24][25] The vessels and crewmen were welcomed by the Haifa base commander, Brigadier General Eli Sharvit,[25] and Chinese embassy officials.[24]

Economic cooperation

On 3 July 2011, Israel and the People's Republic of China entered into an economic cooperation agreement that aimed to boost trade between the two countries. According to Eliran Elimelech, Israel’s commercial attaché in Beijing, the agreement was expected to deepen ties between Israeli and Chinese businessmen in the short term, and in the medium to long term to improve trade conditions between the countries. In January 2011, the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics stated that Israeli exports to China had grown by an annual 95 percent in 2010 to $2 billion.[26]

In September 2011, the Israeli Minister of Transport, Israel Katz, stated that China and Israel had entered negotiations regarding the construction of a high-speed rail link joining the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. This joint project would permit the mass overland transport of Chinese goods to Israel and Eastern Europe, and would involve both Chinese and Israeli railway developers.[27] The following month, the Chinese and Israeli governments signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the joint construction of a 180-km (112-mile) railway linking the Israeli city of Eilat with the Negev Desert's Zin Valley, Beersheba, and Tel Aviv.[28] In August 2012, with Sino-Israeli trade growing, the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing set up a department dedicated to studying Israeli economics and Judaism, while some Chinese universities began offering Hebrew courses.[29]

Controversies

Israel's increasing defense cooperation with China has caused concern in Western nations, such as the United States, which is the largest foreign supplier of military equipment to Israel. Owing to strategic rivalry and concerns over the security of Taiwan, the United States has pressured Israel against selling sophisticated equipment and technology to China.[18] In 1992, the Washington Times alleged that exported American Patriot missiles and Israel's indigenous Lavi jet aircraft technology had been shared with China, although official U.S. investigations did not substantiate these charges.[30] In 2000, Israel cancelled the sale to China of the Israeli-built Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) in the wake of pressure from the U.S., which threatened to cut off US$2.8 billion in yearly aid if the deal went through.[31] Israel's decision drew condemnation from China, which stated that the cancellation would hurt bilateral ties.[31]

In 2010, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1929, imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran for its nuclear enrichment program. China ultimately supported this resolution, although initially, due to the strong Chinese-Iranian relationship, China opposed the sanctions. According to the New York Times, Israel lobbied for the sanctions by explaining to China the impact of any pre-emptive strike on Iran would have on the world oil supply, and hence on the Chinese economy.[32]

After a thorough investigation, Israel has alleged that over a hundred of its government targets in defense and security industries recently received Trojan-infested email seeking to steal sensitive information from Chinese defense industries.[33] However, according to Israeli tech security expert Dr. Tal Pavel: "China and Israel are already close economic allies, and are becoming closer all the time, but business is business, and hacking into Israeli systems in order to get Israel’s tech secrets for free is part of business."[34]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ "China marks 17 years with Israel". Haaretz. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  2. ^ Zhao Jun (ambassador). "Israel-Asia Center". Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  3. ^ Chinese Foreign Minister Visit to Israel Clouded by Terrorism Case Against Bank
  4. ^ Cooley, John (1972). "China and the Palestinians". Journal of Palestine Studies. 1 (2): 19–34. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Friedman, Thomas L. (1985-07-22). "Israel and China quietly form trade bonds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  6. ^ a b c Berton, Peter. "The Evolution of Sino-Israeli Relations". Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs, Vol. IV, No. 3. September 2010. pp. 69-80.
  7. ^ http://mideast.shisu.edu.cn/picture/article/33/81/10/ca7475ef4594a8e57aaaaf20a6e7/b128e251-4781-4c5f-b509-c01b4f9291e8.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-02-10/content_5125006.html
  9. ^ a b c "China No 1 in Israeli Asian Trade". China Daily. 2000-11-09. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  10. ^ a b "Scandals follow Olmert to China". The Jerusalem Post. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  11. ^ "Israel-China "water-trade" to rise significantly". The Jerusalem Post. 2000-11-01. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  12. ^ "After three years of negotiations, Netanyahu to visit China". Haaretz. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  13. ^ "Netanyahu set to scrap China trip, again, amid election fever". The Times of Israel. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  14. ^ "China repeats support for Palestinian U.N. bid". Reuters. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  15. ^ India and Israel: Two Great Democracies that Should Deepen their Strategic Ties Israel HaYom 21 August 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "U.S. up in arms over Sino-Israeli ties". Asia Times. 2004-12-21. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  17. ^ a b Friedman, Thomas L. (1985-07-22). "Israel and China quietly form trade bonds (pg. 2)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  18. ^ a b "China's weapon chase". BBC News. 2000-07-12. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  19. ^ "China defense minister visits Israel". World Tribune. 21 October 1999. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  20. ^ Barbara Opall-Rome (25 May 2011). "PLA Navy Commander Meets Israeli Defense Leaders". DefenseNews. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  21. ^ a b Williams, Dan (14 August 2011). "Chinese military chief makes first visit to Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  22. ^ "China, Israel vow to improve ties". China Daily. Xinhua. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  23. ^ a b Katz, Yaakov (15 August 2011). "Chinese army chief here to talk defense cooperation". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Chinese navy ships visit Israel's Haifa Port". People's Daily. Xinhua. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Cooperation strengthens: Chinese fleet vessels arrive in Israel". IDF website. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  26. ^ Ackerman, Gwen (3 July 2011). "Israel Signs Cooperation Agreement With China". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 4 July 2011. Israel and China today signed a cooperation agreement that aims to boost trade between the two countries.
  27. ^ "Israel to Co-op with China in Railway Project". Cri.cn. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  28. ^ "Chinese to build railway to Eilat". YnetNews. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  29. ^ "Chinese 'very impressed' with Israeli economy". YnetNews. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  30. ^ "Return of the Red Card: Israel-China-U.S. Triangle". Power and Interest News Report. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  31. ^ a b "Israel scraps China radar deal". BBC News. 2000-07-12. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  32. ^ Jacobs, Andrew (2010-06-08). "Israel Makes Case to China for Iran Sanctions". The New York Times.
  33. ^ Israel reportedly thwarts cyber attack from China The Times of Israel 28 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  34. ^ Expert: Hacks by Chinese ‘frenemy’ a fact of life The Times of Israel 29 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
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