China’s Communist leadership revised the government’s statement on the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel after pressure was applied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). This was an unusual move by the Chinese government.
On Sunday, Beijing merely called for “relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and further avoid deterioration of the situation.”
In other words, no harsh condemnation for the mass murder of innocent civilians by terrorists. Chinese authorities merely watched from afar and placidly called for “restraint” to be exercised by both sides. As if they were morally equivalent.
Schumer was not pleased with the extremely noncommittal choice of words over the terrible attack that killed over 900 Israelis. “The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific,” he said in Beijing on Monday.
Schumer added, “I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks.” This apparently prompted an updated statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Schumer calls on Xi to support Israel as China says relation with US ‘will determine the future of humanity’ https://t.co/7hmxSrVGHY
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 9, 2023
It declared, “China condemns all violence and attacks against civilians.” The statement added that “the most urgent task now is to reach a ceasefire and restore peace.”
Schumer explained on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, his role in convincing Chinese leadership to alter its previous statement.
He said, “I raised with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi the Hamas atrocities against Israel and the need for the world to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people.”
Schumer said that he was “very disappointed” that Beijing did not condemn the terrorist attacks on 22 Israeli towns with much more forceful language. The senator said the initial response did not display sympathy or backing for Tel Aviv in the aftermath of the deadly attacks.
He said he “pointedly asked” that China strengthen its statement. “They did.”
The Democrat is in China as part of a delegation of six U.S. senators. He sat down with Xi for 80 minutes in the capital on Monday. Later, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson declared that the nation is “deeply saddened by civilian casualties caused by conflict.”
