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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed Beijing’s position directly to Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit in Azerbaijan, China’s foreign ministry reported on October 16, 2026. Wang stated that Israel should stop and reverse its forced establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank, a stance consistent with China’s longstanding view that such activities undermine prospects for peace. The foreign ministry’s statement framed the Palestinian issue as central to regional stability, with Wang emphasizing that promoting peace and reconciliation forms the cornerstone of China’s Middle East policy.
Wang told Herzog that China has consistently regarded the Palestinian question as the greatest historical injustice of this century, the ministry’s account detailed. He reiterated support for the two-state solution as the correct path toward resolution of the conflict. The minister added that the immediate priority remains fully opening access to the Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe from spreading further.
China stands ready to collaborate with the international community in pressing all parties to resume dialogue and pursue a political settlement, Wang said according to the ministry’s release. The meeting occurred as Wang attended the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia as special representative of President Xi Jinping, state news agency Xinhua reported. Beijing maintains close diplomatic ties with both Palestinian authorities and Iran, Israel’s key regional adversary, while advocating for balanced engagement across the divide.
A UN Human Rights Office report covering the period through October 2025 documented how Israeli settlement expansion has driven the forcible displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The assessment found 1,732 incidents of settler violence causing casualties or property damage during that timeframe, an increase from the prior year, with longstanding impunity encouraging further harassment. Israeli authorities advanced or approved 36,973 housing units in East Jerusalem settlements and around 27,200 in the rest of the West Bank, alongside the establishment of 84 new outposts, the report stated.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers currently reside in the occupied West Bank, where settlement activity has continued despite international legal rulings deeming it unlawful, according to data compiled by UN monitors. The acceleration aligns with policies under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has included expanded approvals in areas designated under prior peace agreements. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for Israel to cease and reverse all settlement activity while ending the occupation of Palestinian territory.
China’s position reflects its historical support for the Palestinian cause, including repeated calls in UN forums for compliance with international law on settlements, a pattern evident in statements dating back years. Beijing previously barred Chinese workers from construction projects in West Bank settlements under bilateral labor agreements with Israel, though enforcement questions have arisen in some analyses. The latest remarks from Wang underscore Beijing’s efforts to position itself as a potential mediator favoring comprehensive dialogue over unilateral actions.
