‘I was really dissatisfied,’ says US Senate leader during visit to China about Israel dispute.
During his visit to China, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer chastised China for its response to the Hamas attack on Israel. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer informed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China’s response on the latest Hamas attack disappointed him since it showed no sympathy or solidarity for Israel.
“I was very disappointed, to be honest, by the Foreign Ministry statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times,” Schumer remarked near the close of his speech.
This week, Schumer is leading a delegation of six senators to China. The delegation, comprised of three Democrats and three Republicans, is the first to visit the country since 2019.
“I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks,” Schumer said in a statement.
On Sunday, China urged both sides to exercise caution and halt the fighting quickly, but it did not denounce Hamas’ surprise strike early Saturday, which killed over 1,000 people and injured thousands more.
China also stated in the ministry statement that building an independent Palestinian state is the primary method to address the issue.
“The recurrence of the conflict demonstrates once again that the protracted stalemate of the peace process cannot continue,” the statement said, adding that the international community must move more quickly to support the restart of peace talks.
China has long supported the Palestinian cause, but it has also strengthened connections with Israel in order to play a larger role in trade, technology, and diplomacy. It has increased its role in the Middle East in recent years, contributing in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and bringing Syrian President Bashar Assad to China.
He stated that the Senate delegation’s first aim is to promote fair trade between the two countries.
“We want economic opportunity for the Chinese people.” That would be beneficial to America,” he stated. “However, China must also ensure a level playing field for American businesses and workers.” Many Americans, including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness right now.”
Wang asked the US to respect China’s fundamental interests and development rights. The Chinese leadership sees American trade and technology restrictions as measures to stifle the country’s economic expansion.
Schumer also brought up concerns about Chinese corporations supplying chemicals for fentanyl production, ensuring China does not back Russia’s “immoral war” against Ukraine, expanding human rights, and releasing jailed Americans.
