Israel’s diplomatic relations with China have entered a tense phase after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly accused Beijing of backing a media campaign against Israel. The prime minister said China, alongside Qatar, was fueling an effort to delegitimize Israel using artificial intelligence and heavy funding.
According to a report by Times Of Israel on 19th September, 2025, Netanyahu made the allegation while addressing a large delegation of 250 American lawmakers. He compared the current situation to Iran’s past attempts to impose a siege on Israel, but argued that this new form of pressure was a “media siege” designed to weaken Israel’s global standing.
Netanyahu said: “Just as Iran once imposed a siege on us hoping it would wipe us out, which we broke through, today there’s an attempt to impose a new siege on Israel—led by Qatar, and also by countries like China. This is a media siege, funded with enormous money.”
The prime minister repeated the charge at a government conference in Jerusalem, warning that Israel could face both diplomatic and economic isolation. He stressed that Israel must be prepared to transform into what he called a “super-Sparta” in order to withstand mounting external pressures.
After two days of silence, the Chinese embassy in Israel issued a strongly worded statement rejecting Netanyahu’s remarks. The statement said China was “shocked” by the accusations, described them as baseless, and warned they would damage ties between the two countries.
Beijing’s response also touched on the war in Gaza, urging Israel to stop its military campaign and instead pursue political solutions. “What Israel needs is not endless bombings, but political wisdom and creative diplomacy,” the embassy declared. It also joined wider international calls for a ceasefire and for the safe return of Israeli hostages.
Behind Netanyahu’s warning lies a growing Israeli concern that Beijing is strengthening its ties with Iran. Reports have suggested that China has been involved in supplying Tehran with advanced air defense systems, while Israeli officials fear Beijing could assist Iran in reviving its missile program.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, echoed these concerns in recent remarks, saying there were “troubling signs” of Chinese cooperation with Iran. While expressing goodwill toward the Chinese people, he cautioned that Israel could not ignore Beijing’s partnership with a regime that openly threatens its survival.
Experts within Israel have expressed surprise at Netanyahu’s blunt accusations. Cybersecurity and China analyst Harel Menashri noted that China has long opposed Israel in international forums, but said Netanyahu’s sudden change in tone was striking given his earlier outreach to Beijing, including allowing Chinese firms to operate major infrastructure projects.
Yuval Weinrib, another scholar on China, suggested Netanyahu’s words may have been aimed at showing alignment with Washington. He warned, however, that while Beijing may not retaliate dramatically, it could adopt subtle measures such as curbing Israeli exports under the pretext of security checks.
The flare-up marks one of the lowest points in Israel-China relations in years. As China positions itself as a defender of Palestinian rights and critic of Israel’s Gaza offensive, Jerusalem is drawing closer to Washington’s stance against Beijing’s influence, setting the stage for deeper diplomatic friction in the months ahead.CONTINUE, FULL, READING>>>>
Find Verified News At Your fingertips Click The Link Above .
Leave a Reply