Chinese professor’s Gaza remarks to Israeli diplomat go viral

A tense exchange between a prominent Chinese academic and an Israeli military official over the Gaza conflict has drawn widespread attention, underscoring the growing diplomatic strain between China and Israel amid the ongoing war.

AI Brief

Chinese academic Yan Xuetong publicly challenged Israeli military attache Elad Shoshan over civilian casualties in Gaza.
The incident followed Israeli claims of a media blockade by China, which Beijing dismissed as baseless and damaging to ties.
Despite tensions, China and Israel continue diplomatic engagement, while Beijing positions itself as a potential mediator in the conflict.

The confrontation occurred on the sidelines of the Xiangshan Forum, China’s premier annual security dialogue, where Yan Xuetong, dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University, challenged Elad Shoshan, military attaché at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

In the video, Yan accused Israel of losing moral legitimacy by targeting civilians.

“Your military should [have shot] the terrorists. Not the children! Not the women!” he said, drawing an analogy to a bank robbery to question the proportionality of Israel’s response.

However, Shoshan rejected the accusations, stating, “We really do all that we can not to hurt the citizens,” and claimed that Hamas’ continued hostage-taking was the root of the conflict.

Yan then countered that “the fact is not decided by you. The fact is decided by the international community”.

The exchange came just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused China and Qatar of orchestrating a “media blockade” against Israel.

Beijing responded sharply, calling the claims “completely unfounded” and warning that such rhetoric could damage bilateral ties.

Despite the diplomatic friction, both countries have signaled interest in maintaining long-term cooperation.

In February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar in Munich, marking the highest-level contact since the war began in October 2023.

Wang reiterated China’s support for a two-state solution and expressed willingness to advance the “innovative comprehensive partnership” between the two nations.

China has historically maintained strong economic ties with Israel, with bilateral trade reaching record levels in 2025. However, Beijing’s vocal support for the Palestinian cause and its condemnation of Israeli military actions have complicated the relationship.

At the Xiangshan Forum, broader discussions also addressed China’s potential role in mediating the Israel-Gaza conflict. Experts emphasised the need for a multipolar approach and urged major powers, including China, to work collaboratively toward a ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian deterioration.