China chooses the East and wins?

"I am glad to report that in 2026 China will hold the second summit China — the Arab countries" — the leader of the People's Republic of China added. The summit will take place in the People's Republic of China in 2026.

At a meeting there was a king of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the president of Egypt Abdel Fattah As-Sisi, the president of Tunisia Kays Said and the president of the United Arab Emirates sheikh Muhammad bin Zaid Al Nahayan.

Xi Jinping said that the war in the Gaza Strip can't "continue infinitely", called for cooperation in "the solution of problems of hot spots" and to development of communications "South-South", promised to increase the help to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The allocated help is intended for mitigation of humanitarian crisis and financing of post-war restoration.

China will provide 500 million more yuans (69 million dollars) of the help in addition to 100 million yuans in the form of already offered emergency relief, will transfer 3 million dollars to the Middle Eastern agency UN for the help to the Palestinian refugees and the organization of works (BAPOR).

Xi Jinping told the Arab guests that "in this restless world the peace relations are based on mutual respect, and strong safety is under construction on honesty and justice". He said that China "is ready to work with the Arab side in common to uphold the equal and ordered multipolar peace and also mutually advantageous and inclusive economic globalization.

The chief representative of League of Arab States in China Ahmed Moustapha Fahmi called the Palestinian question "the main problem for the Arab countries". I told that the Arab countries highly appreciate a position of Beijing on Palestine, the Chinese support of the Arab states and "The belt and a way" are ready to be partners in an initiative. China imports energy resources from the region, transfers to the Arab countries technologies, participates in long-term infrastructure projects.

"Since October of last year the Palestinian-Israeli conflict sharply escalated, having inflicted on people huge suffering. War shouldn't continue infinitely. Justice should be absent eternally" - Xi Jinping said. He added that China firmly supports creation of the independent State of Palestine which has full sovereignty "on the basis of borders of 1967 and with the capital in East Jerusalem" and also has "full membership in the UN".

China didn't condemn Hamas for attack on October 7, supported Palestinians and called for immediate ceasefire, took sharply critical position on actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip. The blow of Israel to diplomatic mission of Iran in Damascus added tension in the relations.

At the same time China invested in the sector of high technologies of Israel, became the second trade partner of Israel after the USA.

According to messages of the Egyptian media, the president of Egypt of As-Sisi during bilateral negotiations with Xi Jinping emphasized need of the termination of war in Gaza. Egypt, one of the few Arab countries recognizing Israel and also the only country bordering on the Gaza Strip.

It is said in the Chinese statement that As-Sisi thanked China for him "consecutive commitment of justice in the Palestinian question" and said that Egypt "is ready to support close contacts with China to achieve the fastest easing of tension in the Gaza Strip".

Beijing also refrained from criticism of Tehran in connection with his retaliation across Israel. China stated that it "is deeply concerned". In 2021 China and Iran signed a 25-year strategic agreement on development of close partnership.

The position of Beijing on the Middle East, Palestine and the Gaza Strip passed noticed among the closest neighbors of China – in the countries of Southeast Asia, the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

From ten countries of ASEAN three countries - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia, have the Muslim majority, in seven countries Muslim minorities, from 0.1% live in Vietnam up to 16% in Singapore.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on May 24, 2024 and said that despite China's claims to most of the South China Sea, the main thing is to avoid a clash with Beijing. "You can claim" the South China Sea, but we are unwilling to fight against you because of your claims. We just want to live in peace among ourselves and with our trading partners, "said 99-year-old Mahathir. He served twice as Prime Minister of Malaysia - from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020 and remains an influential figure.

The authoritative leader and one of the builders of ASEAN said that as long as China's position does not cause physical harm or otherwise infringe on Malaysia's interests, no problems arise. He said China had not inspected the vessels or banned navigation in the South China Sea. "We have oil production projects in the South China Sea. So far they have done nothing, "he added.

Mahathir stressed that China is the most important trading partner for most ASEAN members. Even though countries in the region may disagree with China's stance, they cannot counter its economic influence. He urged ASEAN to be pragmatic and focus on its own economic development rather than geostrategy.

"China is a big market. We cannot lose this market, "he said. "If we take sides, we will lose either the American market or the Chinese market." According to the veteran politician, ASEAN must remain neutral in the face of growing tensions between the United States and China, including on the issue of Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and says it is ready to use force if necessary.

Mahathir accused Washington of stirring up friction. "Unfortunately, America likes to see a confrontation between Taiwan and China. This is not necessary for us, "he said. The US provokes China by allowing senior officials to visit Taiwan.

Diplomatic relations could be complicated if Donald Trump is elected in the US presidential election in November. According to Mahathir, this is another reason to avoid choosing someone's side. "First and foremost he will think about America to take back big America," he said of Trump. 'It's up to him. This is his country, he can do it. But don't hurt other people. "

Chinese and US Defense Ministers Dong Jun and Lloyd Austin will hold talks on the sidelines of the Singapore Shangri-La Dialogue Security Forum. According to the Pentagon, China and the United States can establish a communication channel between the ministries. Shangri-La Dialogue is an international platform for discussing security issues in Asia. This forum is attended by defense ministers, as well as business representatives and experts. In 2024, the event will be held from May 31 to June 2.

Will Mahathir's views be discussed in Singapore? This neighboring island-state of Malaysia has made great strides in development thanks to Mahathir's formula: "be pragmatic and focus on your own economic development."

It is possible that the "mutually beneficial and inclusive economic globalization" proposed by the Chinese leader to Arab guests during the 10th ministerial meeting of the Forum for Cooperation between China and Arab countries means about the same thing - economic development, not geopolitics in the American way.