3 weeks ago
Israel shuts Chengdu consulate amid growing strain in China ties
Israel has a special kind of office in other countries called a consulate.
One of those offices, in a big Chinese city called Chengdu, has now been closed.
Israel decided to close it because it and China are not getting along as well as they used to.
One reason is that China is very friendly with Iran and with Arab countries, and Israel does not like that.
Another reason is that Israel was upset that China did not quickly condemn an attack on Israel in October 2023.
The man who ran the office, Gadi Harpaz, wrote a letter saying goodbye.
He said he was sad to leave, but that the friendships he made will last.
Israel still has other offices in China, in the cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and a bigger office in Beijing.
Some experts think Israel and China will still be friends because they trade and share technology, and the office closing is not a sign that the two countries are becoming enemies.
Israel has closed its consulate in Chengdu, China, with operations ending last month.
Outgoing Consul General Gadi Harpaz called his five years in Chengdu "the most memorable of his diplomatic career" and said he was parting "with a deep sense of sadness and nostalgia".
The closure comes amid growing strain in ties over Beijing's moves closer to Iran and Arab countries and China's stance on the Gaza conflict.
Israel continues to operate consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, plus its embassy in Beijing.
A poll by the Institute for National Security Studies found more than half of Israeli respondents viewed China as hostile or unfriendly.
- Who
- Israel's outgoing Consul General Gadi Harpaz, and the governments of Israel and China
- What
- Israel closed its consulate in Chengdu amid strained bilateral ties
- Where
- Chengdu, southwestern China
- When
- The consulate's operations ended last month; the report was published on Friday (Beijing, Aug 7) after Israel announced the closure late last year
- Why
- Growing strain over Beijing's closer ties with Iran and Arab countries and its wider Middle East policy, and China's position on the Gaza conflict and the October 2023 Hamas attack
Relations Expected to Recover
Bilateral Ties Under Strain
Reading of the Chengdu closure
Relations Expected to Recover
Zhu Yongbiao of Lanzhou University called it "a natural phase in the normal development of bilateral ties" that should not be overinterpreted or seen as a sharp deterioration.
Bilateral Ties Under Strain
The South China Morning Post framed the closure as a sign of "fraying ties" amid growing strain between the two countries over Beijing's Middle East policy.
Prospects for China-Israel relations
Relations Expected to Recover
Analysts say China is unlikely to abandon ties with Israel given the value it places on trade and technology, and Zhu said there is still potential for the relations to recover and develop.
Bilateral Ties Under Strain
Ties have been strained by China's support for Palestine and its closeness to Iran, and more than half of Israelis viewed China as hostile or unfriendly in an April 2024 poll.
Key facts
- Closed facility
- Consulate General of Israel in Chengdu
- Location
- Chengdu, southwestern China
- Closure announcement
- Israel announced late last year it would close one of its diplomatic missions in China, without specifying a reason
- Remaining missions
- Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong; embassy in Beijing
- Outgoing official
- Consul General Gadi Harpaz, after five years in Chengdu
- Strain factors
- China's move closer to Iran and Arab countries; China not immediately condemning the October 2023 Hamas attack; Beijing's support for Palestine in the Gaza conflict
- Public opinion
- April 2024 poll by the Institute for National Security Studies: more than half of Israeli respondents viewed China as hostile or unfriendly
- Report source
- Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, reported Friday
Quotes
Zhu Yongbiao
Middle East analyst and director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University
“If Israel can realistically reassess both countries’ global standing and core interests, I believe there is still potential for relations between the two countries to recover and develop.”
firstpost.com
“"A natural phase in the normal development of bilateral ties."”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Gadi Harpaz
Outgoing Israeli Consul General in Chengdu
“"Although the consulate general is closing, the bridges of friendship, mutual respect and shared memories we built over the last five years will endure."”
firstpost.com
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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