Screenshot from Dasheng YouTube channel of interview on Palestine-Israel conflict with Hui scholar Ma Ju As Israel's war on Gaza escalates and becomes an international diplomatic and military crisis, Global Voices wanted to explore how the conflict is perceived in the Chinese-speaking world, not just by government officials but also by public intellectuals. We interviewed Vivian Wu, a US-based Chinese journalist and editor who is exploring perceptions of the conflict in the Sinophone world. Vivian Wu is a media industry veteran of over 20 years and leads Mighty Voice LLC, a content production firm that just launched a new multimedia platform called Da Sheng for global Sinophone and anglophone audiences. She has worked as a reporter and editor for various media, including the BBC, Initium and the South China Morning Post, and has received multiple awards for her human rights reporting. Portrait of Vivian Wu. Photo used with permission. Filip Noubel (FN): In China, there is limited freedom of information, meaning domestic public opinion, especially regarding international issues, is often shaped by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative. What is Beijing’s official stance presented to its domestic audience concerning Israel’s war on Gaza? Vivian Wu (VW): Interestingly, Chinese state authorities have maintained a somewhat ambiguous stance, hinting at their support for Palestine. On the morning of October 8th, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, ‘China is deeply concerned about the escalating tension and violence in the ongoing Israel-Palestine situation. We urge all relevant parties to remain calm and restrained, immediately cease fire, protect civilians, and prevent further deterioration of the situation.‘ The Ministry further emphasized that the persistent conflicts between Israel and Palestine highlight the fact that the protracted stagnation of the peace process is untenable. It believes the solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict lies in adopting the ‘two-state solution’ and in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. For decades, the Chinese public has been exposed to official statements like these across all state-run media channels. Historically, China's official narrative regarding its relationship with Israel has been one of friendliness and goodwill. However, this time, many liberals in China have taken note of China’s ambiguity, particularly its hesitation to condemn Hamas explicitly. This may be attributed to China's strained relations with the United States. Chinese social media, which often maintains a nationalist tone to appeal to audiences and to steer clear of censorship, is rife with footage depicting Israel's retaliatory actions. Clearly, China, while not wanting to get deeply involved in the Gaza crisis, is also cautious about its portrayal of the Israel-China relationship, given the strong Israel-US relation: its Foreign Ministry has issued numerous calls for the international community to amplify its sense of urgency, invest more in the Palestinian issue, expedite peace negotiations between both sides. Beijing also pledges its unwavering support to collaborate with the global community towards achieving this goal. At the same time, it is worth noting that, following China's facilitation of the renewal of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March 2023, Palestine could become China's next focus to bolster its influence in the Middle East. Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently expressed that China staunchly supports the Palestinian people in their ‘just cause to regain their rightful national rights.’ FN: What about knowledge about the conflict? If you speak only Chinese, where can you get more diverse information and points of view? VW: This is a good question. Surprisingly, this time, there is an abundance of information related to the Gaza crisis made available. The emphasis seems to be on highlighting protests in Europe and the US. Digital platforms and online streaming sites, such as Douyin and Kuaishou, feature footage, some being translations of international news reports into Chinese, many coming with various nationalist perspectives and may contain sensationalized content. Scenes showing protests and disturbances in European countries, like Germany and France, are frequently used to underscore the importance of social stability, Xi Jinping's leitmotiv to justify his own policies in China. Certain footage also focus on the hostages taken by Hamas, but make little mention of Chinese victims of the conflict.