Will Rising Anti-China Sentiment in the U.S. Impact Israel’s Growing Ties with Beijing?
Unarguably, Israel, a small country, must be able to freely navigate a complex international order in a way it sees fit, while taking serious and meaningful steps to heed US concerns.
In a recent Pew poll, of those surveyed 66%, had an unfavorable view of China and 71% said they have no confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping. While the issue does have partisan tendencies, China has never been more unpopular in the US. Those who saw China's growing power and influence as a major threat to the U.S. increased 14 points from 2018 to 62%. "But while half or more of those 50 and older have held negative views of China since 2012, this is the first year in which more than half of younger Americans also have an unfavorable opinion," Pew noted. Swimming with the current of discontent, China’s misgivings are flaunted daily in popular primetime shows, from Lou Dobbs to Tucker Carlson, further adding to the brewing anger.
It is possible that companies and countries that are perceived to benefit from China, a country deemed as the primary reason for the pandemic and consequent economic collapse in the US, may bear the brunt of an angry electorate.
Most Americans support Israel and for good reason. Israel is a liberal democracy in a sea of authoritarian regimes and America’s relationship with Israel is based on shared values. Israel is one of a handful of countries outside of the US where President Trump enjoys popular support.
The two countries share intimate cultural and economic ties and a closeness unparalleled in the global scene. At the same time, Israel is pursuing a multilayered approach to bring maximum benefit to the country, all the while accommodating potential security concerns of its greatest ally. This is no easy task considering that the US and China are engaged in de facto - albeit commercial - warfare.
Unarguably, Israel, a small country, must be able to freely navigate a complex international order in a way it sees fit, while taking serious and meaningful steps to heed US concerns.
Dennis Mitzner is a Tel Aviv-based analyst and journalist with a focus on the Middle East and related geopolitical topics. His work has previously been published in Forbes, Jerusalem Post, TechCrunch and Reason.
Image: Reuters.