Editing Foreign relations of Israel (section)

=== China ===
{{Main|China–Israel relations}}
[[File:Liu Yandong with Reuven Rivlin 2016 (2).jpg|thumb|Israeli President [[Reuven Rivlin]] meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Landung on a visit to Israel]]

On 9 January 1950, the Israeli government extended recognition to the People's Republic of China, but diplomatic relations were not established until January 1992.

Since 1992, Israel and China have developed increasingly close strategic economic, military, cultural and technological links with each other.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/197800 |title=Israel, China in Talks to Become Major Financial Allies |date=7 July 2015 |website=Israel National News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chester |first=Sam |date=28 June 2013 |title=As Chinese-Israeli Relations Enjoy a Second Honeymoon, America Frets |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/136348/china-israel-united-states |website=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]]}}</ref><ref name="Tepper">{{Cite web |last=Tepper |first=Aryeh |date=September 2015 |title=China's Deepening Interest in Israel |url=http://www.thetower.org/article/chinas-deepening-interest-in-israel/ |website=[[The Tower Magazine]]}}</ref><ref name="Katz">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/china-israel-military-technology-beijing-jerusalem-saul-eisenberg-weapons-607117 |title=How Israel Used Weapons and Technology to Become an Ally of China |last=Katz |first=Yaakov |date=15 May 2017 |website=NewsWeek}}</ref> Israel maintains an embassy in [[Beijing]] and is planning to open a new consulate in [[Chengdu]], its third in mainland China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/chinese-foreign-ministers-visit-to-israel-clouded-by-terrorism-case-against-bank-of-china/|title=Chinese foreign minister's visit to Israel clouded by terrorism case against Bank of China|work=Fox News|date=25 March 2015}}</ref> China is Israel's third largest trading partner globally and largest trading partner in East Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-29/israel-s-tech-industry-is-becoming-all-about-china-china-china-.html |title=Israel's Tech Industry Is Becoming All About 'China, China, China |last=Benmeleh |first=Yaacov |date=19 May 2014 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/sino-israeli-economic-ties-blossoming/|title=Sino-Israeli Economic Ties Blossoming|author=Gregory Noddin Poulin |work=The Diplomat}}</ref> Trade volume increased from $50 million in 1992 to over $10 billion in 2013.<ref name="jerusalempost">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/China-Israel-relations-are-bound-to-blossomHE-GAO-YANPING-347495|title=China-Israel relations are bound to blossom H.E. GAO YANPING|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=3 April 2014 }}</ref> Shared commonalities and similarities between the cultures and values of the two nations with ancient roots dating back thousands of years as well as convergence of interests have made the two countries natural partners.<ref name="jweekly.com">{{Cite news |date=22 June 2012 |title=Stop and smell the blossoming ties between Israel and China |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2012/06/22/stop-and-smell-the-blossoming-ties-between-israel-and-china/ |website=[[J. The Jewish News of Northern California]]}}</ref><ref name="Walgrove">{{Cite web |last=Walgrove |first=Amanda |date=25 March 2011 |title=Jewish History in China Boosting Sino-Israeli Relations |url=http://www.momentmag.com/jewish-history-in-china-boosting-sino-israeli-relations/ |website=[[Moment (magazine)|Moment]]}}</ref><ref name="China learns Israeli agri-tech">{{Cite web |url=http://embassies.gov.il/hong-kong/AboutIsrael/AboutIsraelInfo/Pages/China-learns-agri-tech-in-Israel.aspx |title=China learns Israeli agri-tech |date=3 May 2012 |website=Consulate of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau}}</ref><ref name="zionistcouncil.com.au">{{Cite web |url=http://www.zionistcouncil.com.au/chinas-ambassador-to-israel-zhao-jun-is-in-love/ |title=China's ambassador to Israel, Zhao Jun, is in love |date=30 September 2010 |website=Zionist Council of NSW |access-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823162239/http://www.zionistcouncil.com.au/chinas-ambassador-to-israel-zhao-jun-is-in-love/ |archive-date=23 August 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="Katz" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Levitt |first=Joshua |date=24 March 2014 |title=Israel-China Alliance Moves Forward With $2 Billion 'Red-Med' Freight Rail Link Alternative to Suez Canal |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2014/03/24/israel-china-alliance-moves-forward-with-2-billion-red-med-freight-rail-link-alternative-to-suez-canal/ |website=[[Algemeiner Journal]]}}</ref><ref name="Gregory Noddin Poulin">{{cite magazine |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/sino-israeli-economic-ties-blossoming/ |title=Sino-Israeli Economic Ties Blossoming |magazine=The Diplomat |date=1 December 2014 |access-date=21 May 2015 |author=Gregory Noddin Poulin}}</ref> In addition, China is one of the few countries in the world to concurrently maintain warm relations with Israel, [[Palestine-China relations|the Palestinians]], and the Muslim world at large.<ref name="middlekingdom"/>

China's status as a [[Chinese Century|potential world power]] has prompted Israel to maintain closer ties with China by integrating China's global influence with Israel's pragmatic economic management, political stability and its regional strategic importance in the Middle East.<ref name="China learns Israeli agri-tech" /><ref name="auto" /><ref name="ynetnews1" /><ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref name="Walgrove" /> Beijing has appreciated Israel's political stability and diplomatic ingenuity and sees the Jewish state as one of the regional pillars for securing China's influence in the Middle East and the entire world.<ref name="ynetnews1" />

China and Israel have developed close strategic military links with each other. Bilateral military relations have evolved from an initial Chinese policy of secret non-official ties to a close strategic partnership with the modern and militarily powerful Israel.<ref name="Katz" /> Israel and China began extensive military cooperation as early as the 1980s, even though no formal diplomatic relations existed.<ref name="G">{{cite web|title=U.S. up in arms over Sino-Israeli ties |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224012926/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=24 December 2004 |date=21 December 2004 |work=[[Asia Times]]|access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="F">{{cite news|title=Israel and China quietly form trade bonds (pg. 2) |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02E4DF1339F931A15754C0A963948260&sec=technology&spon=&pagewanted=2=9B02E4DF1339F931A15754C0A963948260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |date=22 July 1985|work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=11 June 2008 |first=Thomas L. |last=Friedman}}</ref><ref name="B">{{cite news |title=China's weapon chase|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/831668.stm |date=12 July 2000 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> Israel has provided China with military assistance, expertise and technology. According to a report from the [[United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission]], "Israel ranks second only to Russia as a weapons system provider to China and as a conduit for sophisticated cutting-edge military technology, followed by France and Germany." Israel was ready to sell China the [[EL/M-2075|Phalcon]], an Israeli airborne early-warning radar system ([[Airborne Early Warning and Control|AWACS]]), until the United States forced it to cancel the deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/DL04Ad01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021203164912/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/DL04Ad01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=3 December 2002 |title=Israel's role in China's new warplane |work=[[Asia Times]] |author=David Isenberg |date=4 December 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2220162_1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208112531/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article673579.ece |archive-date=8 February 2007 |title=China's hi-tech military disaster |date=11 June 2006 |work=The Times |location=London |first1=Roland |last1=Watson |author1-link=Roland Watson |first2=Francis |last2=Elliott |author2-link=Francis Elliott (journalist) |first3=Sam |last3=Coates |author3-link=Sam Coates}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Some estimate that Israel sold arms worth US$4 billion to China in this period.<ref name="G" /><ref name="F" /> China has looked to Israel for the arms and military technology it cannot acquire from the United States and Russia.<ref name="auto" /> Israel is now China's second-largest foreign supplier of arms after Russia. China has purchased a wide array of military equipment and technology, including [[communications satellite]]s.<ref name="G" /> China is a vital market for Israel's aerospace and defense industry.<ref name="G" /> Due to Israel's recognition of China, Israel has also limited its cooperation with Taiwan in order to foster closer ties with mainland China.<ref name="G" />

[[File:EWP IN CHINA.jpg|thumb|[[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and [[Matan Vilnai]] on a 2013 bilateral visit in China]]

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, cultural exchange has been a major component of bilateral relations, as both sides recognize the importance of creating a strong foundation based on their ancient and rich histories.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wu |first=Vicky |url=http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=136146 |title=Israel's image in China |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=16 March 2009}}</ref>
China's receptive and friendly embrace of the Jewish people on its soil has been one of affectionate sympathy as the Chinese have developed a favorable view of Jews, admiring them for their contributions to humanity, their ability to survive, the sharing of Chinese values such as family, frugality, hard work and education, and being products of ancient civilizations have been an impetus towards the long and enduring friendship between the Chinese and Jewish peoples.<ref name="Gerstenfeld">{{Cite web |last=Gerstenfeld |first=Manfred |date=28 March 2012 |title=China, Israel and the Jewish People |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11449 |website=[[Israel National News]]}}</ref><ref name="Walgrove" /><ref name="jweekly.com" /> Shared affinities and similar cultural commonalities has not only been an impetus for the close bonds between China and Israel but has also created a symbol of brotherhood between the two communities.<ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/noa-still-searching-for-another-way/ |title=Noa – still searching for another way |last=Leichman|first=Abigail |website=Israel21C |date=30 May 2011}}</ref>

Though Israel established diplomatic relations with China in 1992, the ties between the Chinese and Jewish people remain centuries old in addition to Israel and China being products of ancient civilizations dating back thousands of years.<ref name="Gerstenfeld" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sebag-Montefiore |first=Clarissa |date=27 March 2014 |title=The Chinese Believe That the Jews Control America. Is That a Good Thing? |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/167289/nanjing-jewish-studies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819103810/http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/167289/nanjing-jewish-studies |archive-date=19 August 2017 |access-date=19 August 2017 |website=[[Tablet Magazine]]}}</ref> The cultural similarities between the Chinese and Jewish civilizations with both nations originating thousands of years ago have drawn the two countries closer together making the two countries natural partners in the international community. Chinese Jews have been a major impetus in maintaining the strong nexus between the Chinese and Jewish civilizations.<ref name="Jpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/FUNDAMENTALLY-FREUND-Stop-the-crackdown-on-Chinas-Jews-467140 |title=Stopping the crackdown on China's Jews |work=Jerusalem Post |date=8 September 2016 |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="China learns Israeli agri-tech" /><ref name="jweekly.com" /> Jews remain a small minority in China, but unlike many parts of the world, Jews have historically lived in China without any instances of [[antisemitism]] from the Han majority populace contributing to mutual respect and admiration between the two peoples.<ref name="Gerstenfeld" /><ref name="Walgrove" /><ref name="Revitalizing the silk route">{{cite web|url=http://www.biubogrim.org.il/?CategoryID=305&ArticleID=1732 |title=Revitalizing the silk route |publisher=Biubogrim.org.il |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Olds">{{cite web |url=https://www.theblot.com/israeli-woman-in-china-gets-respect-not-anti-semitism-7738872 |title=Israeli Woman in China Gets Respect, Not Anti-Semitism |last=Olds |first=Dorri |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=11 August 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729131501/https://www.theblot.com/israeli-woman-in-china-gets-respect-not-anti-semitism-7738872 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With the intrinsic affinity that the Chinese people feel for the Jews, relations between the two communities have been mutually close, harmonious and friendly, due to shared common cultural similarities between the two peoples resulted Jews enjoying equal rights and coexisting peacefully alongside the mainstream Han Chinese populace with instances of Jews assimilating into the Han Chinese community through intermarriage.<ref name="Walgrove" /><ref name="Wald 2004 63">{{Cite book |title=China and the Jewish People |last=Wald |first=Shalom Salomon |publisher=The Jewish People Planning Policy Institute / GefenPublishing House |year=2004 |isbn=978-965-229-347-3 |location=Jerusalem |page=63}}</ref><ref name="Asia Times Online">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-100114.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110131435/http://atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-100114.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=10 January 2014|title=Common traits bind Jews and Chinese |work=[[Asia Times|Asia Times Online]] |date=10 January 2014 |access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lifestyle">{{cite web |url=http://www.philstar.com/business-life/2015/08/03/1483091/misconceptions-and-lessons-about-chinese-and-jewish-entrepreneurs |title=Misconceptions and lessons about Chinese and Jewish entrepreneurs |publisher=Lifestyle |date=3 August 2015 |access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="BUCKLEY">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/26/world/asia/china-kaifeng-jews-moshe-bernstein.html |title=Jewish and Chinese: Explaining a Shared Identity |last=Buckley |first=Chris |date=25 September 2016 |website=New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=China |url=http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/harbin/Brief_History.htm |title=A Brief History of the Jews of Harbin|publisher=Kehilalinks.jewishgen.org |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Jpost.com" /><ref>{{cite web |author=at 07:25h |date=20 June 2017 |title=Why do the Chinese admire the Jews? |url=https://shavei.org/why-do-the-chinese-admire-the-jews/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731232201/https://shavei.org/why-do-the-chinese-admire-the-jews/ |archive-date=31 July 2020 |access-date=18 July 2017 |publisher=[[Shavei Israel]]}}</ref><ref name="China learns Israeli agri-tech" /> On a geopolitical scale, China has sought to maintain close relations with the Jewish state as Israel's regional importance, stability and influence in an otherwise volatile region has been an important asset for the expansion of China's influence in the Middle East and the entire world.<ref name="ynetnews1" /> Shared commonalities and similarities between the cultures and values of the two nations, ancient roots as well as convergence of interests have driven the two countries closer with respect to scientific, economic, diplomatic and cultural ties.<ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref name="Walgrove" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2014/03/24/israel-china-alliance-moves-forward-with-2-billion-red-med-freight-rail-link-alternative-to-suez-canal/ |title= Israel-China Alliance Moves Forward With $2 Billion 'Red-Med' Freight Rail Link Alternative to Suez Canal |last=Levitt |first=Joshua |date=24 March 2014 |website=Algemeiner}}</ref><ref name="Gregory Noddin Poulin" />

China is one of Israel's closest economic allies in East Asia where both countries have placed considerable importance on maintaining a strategic and economic relationship.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/07/07/israel-china-in-talks-to-become-major-financial-allies/ |title=Israel, China in Talks to Become Major Financial Allies |date=7 July 2015 |website=Jewish BusinessNews}}</ref><ref name="Katz" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.com/en/china-seeks-strategic-foothold-in-israel/a-17507052/ |title=China seeks strategic foothold in Israel |publisher=DW |date=13 October 2016 |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731150603/http://www.dw.com/en/china-seeks-strategic-foothold-in-israel/a-17507052 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The economic synergy has served the two respective countries greatly where Israel's global technological prowess combined with China's global economic influence, industrial manufacturing capabilities, and marketing expertise made cooperation between the two nations inevitable.<ref name="jweekly.com" /> China including Hong Kong is Israel's second top export destination after the United States and has been the top market for Israeli exports in East Asia.<ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref name="kaipule1">{{cite web |title=Chinese-Israeli Economic Alliance Is Going on And Strong &#124; The Kaipule Blog |url=http://blog.kaipule.co/2016/10/13/chinese-israeli-economic-alliance-is-going-on-and-strong |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729001526/http://blog.kaipule.co/2016/10/13/chinese-israeli-economic-alliance-is-going-on-and-strong/ |archive-date=2017-07-29 |access-date=18 July 2017 |publisher=Blog.kaipule.co}}</ref><ref name="middleeastnewsservice1">{{cite web |url=https://middleeastnewsservice.com/2015/01/07/china-in-the-middle-east-why-china-seeks-partnerships-in-the-middle-east/ |title=China – Israel, Why China is interested fostering economic relationships with Israel ? &#124; Eyes on Europe & Middle East |publisher=Middleeastnewsservice.com |date=7 January 2015 |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728123809/https://middleeastnewsservice.com/2015/01/07/china-in-the-middle-east-why-china-seeks-partnerships-in-the-middle-east/ |archive-date=28 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> China is also Israel's third largest trading partner and export market after the United States and the European Union with China being Israel's largest export market in East Asia.<ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetower.org/article/through-trade-and-tourism-china-turns-its-attention-to-israel/ |title=Through Trade and Tourism, China Turns Its Attention to Israel |last=Stub |first=Sara Toth |date=31 January 2017 |website=The Tower Magazine}}</ref> Israel has sought China's enormous global influence on world affairs, large consumer market, broad industrial manufacturing scale, and burgeoning economic dynamism while China has sought Israel as a powerhouse of advanced technological wizardry and a wellspring of entrepreneurial acumen leveraging each other's complementary capabilities and resources.<ref name="jweekly.com" /><ref name="Walgrove" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/224022 |title=Netanyahu: Israel has strong relationships with China, India |date=29 January 2017 |publisher=Israel National News |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="middleeastnewsservice1" /><ref name="Al Arabiya Network">{{cite web |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2014/04/04/The-uncertain-future-of-China-Israel-relations.html |title=The uncertain future of China-Israel relations |publisher=Al Arabiya Network |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225603/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2014/04/04/The-uncertain-future-of-China-Israel-relations.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> China has sought Israel's technology to increase its international economic competitiveness and risk management. With the advice and experience of Jewish entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors from the high-technology sectors, China has utilized Israel's indispensable economic and technological contributions to foster its long-term economic development.<ref name="Wald 2004 19">{{Cite book |title=China and the Jewish People |last=Wald |first=Shalom Salomon |publisher=The Jewish People Planning Policy Institute / GefenPublishing House |year=2004 |isbn=978-965-229-347-3 |location=Jerusalem |page=19}}</ref> China has also expressed desire for Israel's advanced technologies, particularly in fields related to agriculture, telecommunications, and defense.<ref name="jweekly.com" /> The scientific and technological advancements made by Israel have led many Chinese politicians to respect the country's ingenuity and creative inventiveness because they know of the contributions Israel has made to its economy. Israeli agricultural techniques, most notably [[drip irrigation]], and solar energy technologies are seen as crucial to China's economic development.<ref name="China learns Israeli agri-tech" /><ref name="Wald 2004 19" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=China and the Jewish People |last=Wald |first=Shalom Salomon |publisher=The Jewish People Planning Policy Institute / GefenPublishing House |year=2004 |isbn=978-965-229-347-3 |location=Jerusalem |page=79}}</ref> Throughout Israel's early economic history, many Israeli startup companies were acquired by major U.S. and Western European corporations. Since the 2010s, China and Israel enhanced bilateral economic ties with China connecting both Chinese and Israeli businessmen and investors to invest in each other's economies respectively. Chinese economic cooperation with Israel has seen substantial Chinese investment of more than US$15 billion in the Israeli economy, spawning seed capital in Israeli startup companies, as well as the acquisition of Israeli companies by major Chinese corporations that incorporate Israel's know how to help the invigorate the development of the modern Chinese economy more efficiently. China now ranks second after the United States in collaboration with Israeli high-tech firms that are backed by Israel's Office of the Chief Scientist.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aish.com/jw/s/Jewish-Chinese-Connections.html |title=Jewish-Chinese Connections |last=Miller |first=Yvette |work=aishcom |date=9 May 2015}}</ref> Major Chinese firms such as Fosun, ChemChina, Brightfood, Horizons Ventures and China Everbright have invested significant amounts of financial capital and resources across numerous Israeli industries.<ref name="atimes1">{{cite web|last=Cukierman |first=Edouard |url=https://asiatimes.com/china-israels-tale-love-high-tech/ |title=China and Israel's tale of love and high-tech |work=Asia Times |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> Chinese businessmen and major Chinese corporations hold Israel's business, economic and entrepreneurial acumen and technological expertise with high esteem and have sought to integrate Israel's know-how with China's marketing proficiency, industrial manufacturing capacity and aptitude for large consumer market scaling.<ref>{{Cite book |title=China and the Jewish People |last=Wald |first=Shalom Salomon |publisher=The Jewish People Planning Policy Institute / GefenPublishing House |year=2004 |isbn=978-965-229-347-3 |location=Jerusalem |pages=11, 18, & 45}}</ref><ref name="atimes1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/PM-Strong-ties-with-China-India-thanks-to-diplomacy-of-technology-479968 |title=PM: Strong ties with China, India thanks to 'diplomacy of technology' |work=Jerusalem Post |date=29 January 2017 |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>