Israel’s Embrace of China Is Sorely Misguided

Arthur Herman concludes his excellent essay in Mosaic by urging Israel to take a more cautious approach to its burgeoning relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Herman is correct. In fact, the point deserves to be put more strongly: Israel’s embrace of the Chinese Communist party (CCP) under Xi Jinping is morally and strategically misguided. This has become increasingly evident as Xi has transformed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the “soft authoritarian” developmental state created by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s into the “hard totalitarian” state it is today, both at home and abroad. In turn, Washington is gradually changing its own strategy to one of vigorous competition with China as its main great-power rival. As Washington shifts course, Israel would do well to align itself accordingly.

A little history, some of which is also ably rehearsed by Herman, would be helpful here.