Editor’s note for June 14, 2023

Dear reader:

Fresh from fêting Honduran President Xiomara Castro on her first visit to Beijing after dumping Taiwan, Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 today met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is in the Chinese capital for three days.

Xi noted that “China was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.” Beijing has always offered strong rhetorical support for the Palestinian government, despite growing commercial and political ties to Israel.

Xi is also using Abbas’ visit to burnish China’s credentials as a global peacemaker. In advance of the visit, China’s Foreign Ministry has issued proposals on “resolving the Palestinian question” and called for a political settlement between Israel and Palestine.

Call me a cynic, but my only response is: “Good luck with that!”

For a more nuanced take, look for our detailed report on Abbas’ visit and what it means for Israel and Palestine, to be published in the next few days.

Our Word of the Day is: Palestine (巴勒斯坦 bālèsītǎn)