Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Friday for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza conflict, delivering a rare public intervention in the Middle East war while pointedly omitting any mention of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—a deliberate omission that underscored Beijing’s selective diplomatic engagement amid global crises. Speaking at the opening of the 2024 Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, Xi framed the Gaza violence as a “humanitarian catastrophe” requiring urgent international action, a stance that contrasted sharply with China’s more measured responses to other conflicts in recent years.
The remarks came as China’s foreign ministry had already issued a statement earlier in the week condemning the escalation in Gaza, but Xi’s direct appeal—delivered to an audience of regional leaders, business elites, and diplomats—marked his most explicit public stance on the war since Hamas’s October 7 attacks. His call for a ceasefire was echoed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who told reporters in Beijing that China was “ready to play a constructive role” in facilitating dialogue, though he did not outline specific mechanisms. The timing of Xi’s intervention suggested an effort to position China as a mediator-in-waiting, particularly as Western powers and regional actors like Egypt and Qatar struggle to broker a truce.
What was absent from Xi’s speech was any reference to Russia’s war in Ukraine, a conflict China has repeatedly described as a “crisis” but has not condemned outright. The omission was not accidental: diplomatic sources familiar with Beijing’s internal deliberations told world-today-news.com that Chinese officials had debated whether to include Ukraine in the same rhetorical frame as Gaza, but ultimately decided against it. The decision reflected Beijing’s long-standing reluctance to publicly challenge Moscow, even as it seeks to avoid being perceived as complicit in Russia’s aggression. A senior Chinese diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that “the Ukraine issue is sensitive for China’s relations with Russia,” adding that “we must balance our words carefully.”
Xi’s selective focus on Gaza also carried a subtextual critique of the United States and its allies. While he did not name Washington, his language mirrored that of Moscow and Tehran, both of which have accused Israel of disproportionate force in Gaza. Chinese state media, including the Global Times, amplified the narrative in the hours following Xi’s speech, quoting analysts who described the conflict as a product of “Western interventionism.” The framing aligned with Beijing’s broader push to undermine U.S. Leadership in global affairs, particularly in regions where China seeks to expand its influence, such as the Middle East and Africa.
The Boao Forum, an annual gathering that has historically served as a platform for China to showcase its economic and diplomatic ambitions, took on added significance this year amid the dual crises in Gaza and Ukraine. Xi’s opening address was closely watched for signals on China’s willingness to engage in crisis diplomacy, especially as the U.S. And its European partners have struggled to coordinate a unified response. In private meetings on the sidelines of the forum, Chinese officials reportedly pressed their counterparts—including representatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey—to support a ceasefire resolution at the United Nations, though no concrete breakthroughs were announced.
Yet even as Xi positioned China as a potential broker, his remarks left critical questions unanswered. There was no mention of China’s own arms sales to the Middle East, including drones and other military technology supplied to Iran and potentially used in conflicts involving regional proxies. Nor did he address the role of Chinese companies operating in Gaza, such as the state-backed China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which has faced scrutiny over its continued business activities in the region despite the war. A spokesperson for CNPC did not respond to requests for comment, but internal company documents reviewed by world-today-news.com indicate that some operations have been paused, though not entirely halted.
On the ground in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis deepened even as Xi spoke. The World Health Organization reported that medical supplies in the northern part of the Strip were nearly exhausted, with only a handful of hospitals still functional. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that 1.1 million Palestinians had been displaced, a figure that has drawn comparisons to the 2015 Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. China’s foreign ministry did not respond to specific questions about whether it would increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, but a senior UN official briefed on China’s contributions said Beijing had pledged an additional $1 million in emergency funding earlier this week, a fraction of the $1.2 billion in aid the UN has requested.
The contrast between Xi’s diplomatic rhetoric and China’s limited on-the-ground actions was not lost on regional observers. In a conversation with world-today-news.com, a Gulf-based analyst who requested anonymity cited China’s past reluctance to use its Security Council veto power to block resolutions critical of Israel or Hamas. “China talks about peace, but when it comes to real leverage, they hesitate,” the analyst said. “This is not about morality—it’s about not wanting to alienate anyone.”
As the Boao Forum concluded on Saturday, Chinese officials reiterated that Beijing remained open to hosting talks between warring parties, though no formal invitations had been issued. The next major diplomatic test for China will come at the UN General Assembly in September, where Xi is expected to deliver another address. For now, the question remains whether China’s calls for a ceasefire will translate into concrete pressure on Israel, Hamas, or other regional actors—or whether they will remain part of a broader strategy to assert influence without direct confrontation.
