Israel and China, a Test of Loyalty for the United States?
Like the Gulf monarchies, Israel has strengthened its economic cooperation with China since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, leading to an influx of Chinese capital, whether in Tel Aviv's high-tech sector or in Israel's port infrastructure.
Over the past five years, the growth of this Sino-Israeli trade has provoked a strong reaction from Washington, particularly around the presence of Chinese operators in the port of Haifa, where the US Navy regularly deploys its ships.
The Israeli-American tensions around the China issue could explain the clear slowdown in Israeli trade with Beijing since 2018, the Hebrew State being careful not to give a military dimension to its partnership with China. Beyond the American factor, the Sino-Israeli relationship is also constrained by deep differences between the two countries on many regional issues, whether it be the Chinese partnership with Iran or the close ties between Israel and India.
This content is available in French: Israël et la Chine, un test de loyauté pour les Etats-Unis ?
Author(s)
Jean-Loup SAMAAN
Ancien chercheur associé, Programme Turquie/Moyen-Orient de l'Ifri
