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In Wake of Hamas Massacre, China Roots for Palestinians and Itself, Pans Israel and the US

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China’s state run media has been quick to distort Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli civilians, and Israel’s response. The CCP media is once again on full-throttle propaganda mode, portraying Israel as the once-and-future aggressor and the Palestinians as the perennial victims, while de-emphasizing Hamas’ war crimes. As with other world events, China portrays itself as the best positioned to broker peace, while the US is fanning the flames of war.

CCP Claim: Israel is Blind with Rage, and Will Commit War Crimes

Taking a page from Hamas’ propaganda that Jews are warmongers, China claims that Israel is blind with rage and revenge. Global Times, citing a Chinese research fellow, claims that “…with Israel’s revenge instinct uncurbed, a ground operation in Gaza seems inevitable, and therefore more bloodshed.” Another Global Times article claims that “Israel continues to be driven by rage and retaliation and is adamantly pursuing military action in Gaza.” A China Daily article stated that Israel’s “…’self-defense’ has apparently gone too far this time.” This echoes statements by the Chinese foreign minister, as cited by Global Times, that “Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense.”

China also calls on Israel to restrain itself, as it prejudges Israel as certain to commit international law violations at a later time, while ignoring Hamas’ self-evident war crimes. For example, Global Times states that “If Israel continues with its planned ground offensive when Gaza has already been facing a growing humanitarian crisis, such actions clearly go against the international law and will draw much diplomatic and public opinion pressure on Israel.” This quote disregards Hamas’ abuse and neglect of Gaza over the years, and the now well-documented war crimes Hamas committed on October 7.

CCP Claim: Hamas Has Merely Attacked Israel’s Military and “Settlements”

In a gross distortion, China portrays Hamas’ slaughter as targeting Israel’s military and “settlements,” whitewashing its pre-meditated massacre of civilians. “Hamas launched a surprise attack on… Israel’s military, catching them off guard and resulting in significant casualties that have shocked the world,” quips an article from Global Times. Another Global Times article stated that Hamas penetrat[ed] multiple military bases and Israeli settlements.” Both articles brazenly omit that Hamas targeted Israeli civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, while the second article’s false label of the targeted Israeli towns as “settlements” further de-emphasizes the victims.

CCP Claim: Palestinians Have Right to Justice Above Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

China also emphasizes the right of Palestinian “justice,” while de-emphasizing Israel’s right to justice from Hamas’ killing spree, According to China Daily, “On the question of Palestine, China will continue to stand on the side of peace, justice, international law, shared aspirations and conscience….There is no shortage of injustice in the world, but the injustice done to the Palestinian people has dragged on for far too long. Peace is incumbent upon the Palestinian people getting justice.” This completely ignores the multiple ways that Hamas violated all sense of peace, justice, and international law in the October 7 attacks, as well as in Hamas’ incessant attacks on Israel generally.

CCP Claim: China Can Broker Peace

China portrays itself as well-positioned to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace. To do this, China establishes its “street cred” with Arabs. For example, “China is a true, staunch, faithful friend to both the Arab and Muslim worlds,” boasts Global Times, while this and other articles leave out similar platitudes towards the Jewish State. “China can also work with more Arab countries because China’s position on the Palestinian issue aligns with that of Arab countries,” chimes in a Chinese think tank analyst as cited by another Global Times article.

China’s proposed solution to the conflict starts with a “ceasefire.”  “After a conflict occurs, China’s consistent stance is to call for a ceasefire and engage in a dialogue to resolve the issue, rather than escalating the conflict,” according to Global Times. This position disregards the fact that a ceasefire would play into the hands of Hamas, given their history of violating ceasefires. Further, promoting a ceasefire would allow Hamas to get away with the murder of 1,400 souls and kidnapping of about 220 more, and enable Hamas to commit such heinous acts in the future.

China’s diplomatic vision culminates in the frequently peddled, dated framework of a “two-state solution.” “The fundamental way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state,” according to Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, as cited by China Daily. Such a warped conclusion ignores the multiple times the Palestinians were offered autonomy but either rejected it or didn’t have a counter-offer, and both Hamas’ and the Palestinian Authority’s stated goal to kill Jews and destroy Israel.

CCP Claim: The US is Hindering Peace

While China portrays itself as a level-headed and wise peacemaker, it throws shade on the US as being a major obstacle to peace. According to China Daily, “Washington’s foreign policy on the Palestinian issue has impeded the early resolution of the conflict…” In the conflict, “the US is stoking the fire,” according to Global Times. Another Global Times article similarly states that “…the quick decision of the US and some Western countries to take sides not only does not help solve the problem but also adds fuel to the fire.”

A third Global Times article puts the blame squarely on the US:

First of all, the US abandoned justice by supporting Israel in its conflict with Palestine and condoning Israel’s behaviors, which eventually led to this tragedy. Since the beginning of this year, the US, which claims to be the mediator for peace in the Middle East and the most important ally of Israel, has not fulfilled its obligation to promote justice and prevent tensions from escalating. Instead, it has become an accomplice in stirring up the conflict between Palestine and Israel.

These articles ignore the self-evident inflammatory actions of Hamas and Iran towards the current situation, and regional strife generally.

China hopes to continue its geopolitical charm offensive by inserting itself into the recent Hamas-Israel war. In 2023, it helped broker deals between Iran and Saudi Arabia and between Syria and the Arab League, and is seeking to broker a Russia-Ukraine deal as well. But by whitewashing Hamas and trumpeting itself as the right choice to mediate, China is hoping to weaken Israel, as well as US influence in the region.

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Pentagon Report Reveals China’s Rapid Nuclear Expansion, Doubling Previous U.S. Estimates

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China’s nuclear arsenal has surged to over 500 warheads—more than double the previous U.S. estimate—according to a newly released Pentagon intelligence report. This “rapid expansion” is raising alarm among U.S. officials as Beijing aggressively accelerates its military capabilities and steps up hostilities toward allied states in the Pacific.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reports that in 2020, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessed that China had amassed roughly 200 nuclear warheads and projected that the count could reach 400 by 2030. But the latest findings show China has already far exceeded that estimate, and the Pentagon now believes China could have over 1,000 operational warheads by 2030.

According to the report, China’s current nuclear build-up represents the most rapid and ambitious modernization effort in its history, indicating the nation’s long-term strategy for sustained competition with the U.S. and signaling an operational readiness for intensified strategic concepts. China’s arsenal, composed of various nuclear warheads, can be launched from a range of platforms, including submarines, ground-mobile systems, and aircraft. The DIA report also notes that China is building additional facilities for the production of fissile materials to further scale up its nuclear arsenal.

The report suggests that China remains committed to a “no first use” nuclear policy—meaning it would only launch a nuclear strike in retaliation. However, China’s “launch-on-warning” policy enables it to strike back preemptively if it detects an incoming attack.

“China is fielding new nuclear capabilities at a faster pace than at any time in its history,” the DIA report reads, emphasizing the military’s objective to achieve parity with the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Despite Beijing’s statements about maintaining a defensive posture, the Pentagon warns that China’s rapid nuclear advancements could lead to an increased risk of miscalculation.

The Pentagon report highlights China’s growing capability and confidence, suggesting that Beijing’s bolstered nuclear deterrence over the next decade could embolden its leaders. This, in turn, increases the risk of miscalculations and escalations as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) builds up the capability to counter the U.S. across various domains.

A spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. downplayed concerns, pointing to America’s extensive nuclear arsenal as a primary security risk. “China is committed to a defensive nuclear strategy and a policy of ‘no first use’ of nuclear weapons and keeps our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security,” the spokesperson told the DCNF.

The report also reflects a lack of transparency in U.S.-China relations, with military talks largely suspended since 2022 and only resuming recently. This limited communication between the nations further fuels apprehension within the international community.

China’s nuclear expansion aligns with its broader military ambitions under President Xi Jinping, who has ordered the PLA to be prepared for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027. Although the U.S. maintains a “strategic ambiguity” policy toward Taiwan—meaning it does not disclose how it would respond to a Chinese invasion—the potential for conflict has heightened as China’s military power grows.

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