Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan visited Israel for four days this week (from 22nd to 25th). In addition to meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the first day, what attracted the attention of foreign media was his visit to the old city of Jerusalem.Wailing Wall, the Holy Land of Judaism.
None of the Chinese official media reported on the itinerary, and it was the Israeli foreign ministry and the media that first released relevant news and photos.It is said that Wang Qishan followed the Jewish tradition, wore a black top hat, said prayers, and stuffed a note with a wish for peace into the cracks in the Wailing Wall.The well-known history buff also told the Israeli reception staff that he has read a lot of books on Jewish history, and this time he is very happy to have the opportunity to watch and touch history by the ancient wall.
For Israel, the Wailing Wall not only has religious significance, but also has great political significance.Since the beginning of the last century, Jews and Muslims have frequently had violent bloodshed for the ownership of the Wailing Wall.After the Israeli-Arab War in 1948, Jordan once controlled the Wailing Wall and grounded the Jews. It was not until the Six-Day War in 1967 that Israel took back the Temple Mount where the Wailing Wall is located.Territory deemed illegally occupied by Israel.Even the United States, which has such a strong relationship with Israel, did not become the first sitting US president to visit the Wailing Wall for a private visit until Trump took office last year.
According to Israeli media reports, in recent years, Israel has increasingly invited and arranged for visiting foreign leaders to visit the Wailing Wall in order to emphasize to the international community the sacred connection between Jews and Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and the Wailing Wall.Therefore, Wang Qishan is of great significance as the first high-level Chinese leader to visit the Wailing Wall.
Israel is an ally of the United States, and China has always demanded on international occasions that Israel end its occupation of Palestine and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinians.During Wang Qishan’s visit to Israel this time, he also specially arranged for half a day (23rd) to visit Palestine and hold talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Hamdallah.Instead, it waited until the end of the visit (25th) to report it, which shows how carefully Beijing seeks a balance to avoid making people feel that it has fallen to the side of Israel.
However, it is an indisputable fact that the economic and trade ties between China and Israel have become increasingly close in recent years.According to reports, Chinese companies invested US$16 billion in Israel last year. China is currently Israel's second largest trading partner, after the United States.Since Chinese companies have won many infrastructure projects in Israel, there are 20,000 Chinese construction workers working there.
After the Sino-U.S. trade war broke out, the U.S. has tightened controls on high-tech exports to China, Chinese acquisitions in the U.S., investment in high-tech companies, and even tightened visas for Chinese scientific and technological talents to go to the U.S.Under such circumstances, it is necessary for China to strengthen cooperation with other major scientific and technological powers to break through the technological blockade of the United States, including Israel.The eight cooperation agreements signed by China and Israel on the 24th cover the fields of science, technology, medical care and agriculture, as well as the Chinese action items of the China-Israel Innovation Cooperation Joint Committee from 2018 to 2021.Wang Qishan is the Chinese chairman of the committee.
In fact, there is no doubt in Israel about strengthening economic and trade ties with China. For example, there is concern that China may transfer Israeli technology to Iran after it buys it, endangering Israel's national security.In addition, the United States once ordered Israel to stop selling arms to China in the 1990s. If Israel and China get too close now, there is no guarantee that the same thing will not happen again.
After all, Wang Qishan only went to the Wailing Wall to pay his respects, and Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem as soon as he made a decision.
