Exploring the Exponential Rise of Nationalist Sentiment on Chinese Social Media Amidst the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Sign up for CNN's Meanwhile in China newsletter to stay informed about the growing influence of China and its impact on the world. A contentious discussion has erupted on Chinese social media concerning Israel's conflict with Hamas, with differing opinions on Israel's right to defend itself and an increase in anti-Semitic sentiments among pro-Palestinian voices.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, has garnered significant attention in China. Many Chinese citizens have been actively discussing and sharing their opinions on various online platforms, particularly on popular platform Weibo. The war between Israel and Hamas has led to a divide in opinions, both within China and globally. Posts related to the conflict often emerge as trending topics on Weibo, gaining millions of views.

However, as sympathy towards Israel proliferates in online posts, there is also a concurrent increase in criticism regarding its actions, accompanied by the emergence of more extreme and antisemitic perspectives, which Chinas influential online censors have permitted to spread. Deputy Chief of Mission Yuval Waks from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing acknowledged that the prevailing sentiment in China veers towards being highly critical of Israel and often harbors antisemitic tendencies.

"We are concerned that this could create a toxic atmosphere and pose a serious threat to both Israelis in China and the Jewish community residing there," expressed Waks. Recently, an Israeli diplomat was stabbed in Beijing by a foreign national, a 53-year-old businessman, although the motive behind the incident is still being investigated.

Waks expressed gratitude for China's efforts in providing medical treatment to the injured diplomat and ensuring the safety of his colleagues. However, he urged the Chinese government to issue a more forceful condemnation of Hamas, the specific group responsible for the harm caused to civilians. While China has expressed condemnation for any actions that harm civilians, it has not explicitly singled out Hamas or mentioned the group in its statements, as many western nations have done.

"We are greatly disappointed by the lack of a clear condemnation from a country with whom we share a strong bilateral relationship," expressed Waks. He further emphasized that the government's stance often influences the tone of online discussions.

Although Beijing has aimed to maintain a neutral standpoint in its official statements, state media coverage of the conflict seems to have a biased slant. It frequently highlights Israel's airstrikes on Gaza and the resulting scenes of devastation.

China's government has intensified its criticism of Israel's siege of the Palestinian enclave, with top diplomat Wang Yi accusing Israel of exceeding the limits of self-defense and urging an immediate ceasefire. United Nations experts and international humanitarian organizations have echoed these calls, cautioning that the situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating. Palestinian health officials report that over 3,700 individuals, including 1,500 children and 1,000 women, have tragically lost their lives in Gaza since the start of the Israeli offensive.

Tightly controlled space

Many prominent nationalist influencers on Weibo frequently share anti-Israel posts that often display hostility towards the West. While there are individuals who have criticized Israel's actions throughout history, including in their ongoing conflict with Hamas, there are also those who propagate anti-Semitic conspiracies and express hateful comments.

A widely followed nationalist account with over 2 million followers has shared memes featuring Adolf Hitler, while others have expressed admiration for the former German dictator, infamous for his role in the Holocaust during World War II.

Moreover, numerous popular accounts have criticized the enduring partnership between Israel and the United States.

One well-known account with 6.6 million followers accused Israel of failing to side with China when it was sanctioned by the US, and asked why China would support Israel now.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands after signing joint statement during Xi's state visit to Moscow in March 2023.

Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/Getty Images

China and Russia strongly denounce Israel amidst escalating divisions with Western countries.

Xiao Qiang, a research scientist at the School of Information, University of California Berkeley, highlights that in China, online discussions are heavily influenced by nationalist accounts backing the government. These accounts engage in a contest for attention by making sensational claims.

"He goes to great lengths to grab attention. There is a commercial motive behind it," he stated.

Xiao pointed out that the promotion of harmful stereotypes is also fueled by the lack of reliable information. "There is a significant lack of understanding when you solely rely on government-provided information."

Antisemitism has been present in China's online sphere and certain segments of state media for a significant period of time. In recent years, various conspiracy theories have gained popularity, even to the extent that official media outlets have referenced them.

Galia Lavi, the deputy director of the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center in Israel, has pointed out that the authorities' lack of response to antisemitic online messages is particularly concerning due to the highly effective censorship system in place. This inaction can be seen as an implicit endorsement, much like China's failure to condemn Hamas.

She stated that Chinese officials' failure to condemn Hamas implies their support for the organization. Several China observers and Israeli academics have recently highlighted the growing anti-Semitic sentiment in China, resulting in some Chinese diplomats seemingly acknowledging this issue. Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, on Sunday, took to X (previously known as Twitter) to point out that "during WWII, Shanghai accommodated 20,000 Jewish refugees with the help of the Chinese people."

Beyond the event itself

While the predominant sentiment on the internet is highly critical of Israel, there are differing opinions on this matter. On Weibo, a few individuals have denounced the acts of terrorism committed by Hamas and have called for its defeat, while others have shown sympathy towards both parties.

"Expressing solidarity with the people of Israel," another user commented, garnering 1,600 likes on a recent post by the Israeli Embassy. This increased engagement has contributed to the embassy's higher number of daily posts, as shared by Lavi from the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center in an interview with CNN.

An injured person is assisted by medical personnel at the Al-Shifa Hospital after a blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, October 17.

Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters

"In times like this, it is only natural that the Israeli Embassy will be more active, trying to tell the world what has happened," said Lavi.

The Israeli Embassy dedicated several posts to Noa Argamani, a young Israeli woman with some Chinese ancestry. In videos, she was forcibly separated from her boyfriend by militants during an attack on a music festival, resulting in the loss of over 260 lives. It is now suspected that both individuals have been kidnapped.

Although the post prompted some favorable responses, it also invited a barrage of intense criticism. A nationalist commentator, who boasts over 190,000 followers and a banner image advocating for the protection of China, questioned why Argamani's situation should matter.

"Shouldn't she seek assistance from the Israeli government, considering her entire family is now Israeli?" questioned the commentator.

The post received 24,000 likes and was shared over 500 times. Some individuals accused the Israeli Embassy of using women and children to gain sympathy.

The war has garnered significant online attention in China, largely due to its role as an outlet for political expression in an otherwise tightly regulated online environment, according to Wendy Zhou, a doctoral researcher specializing in Chinese internet studies at Georgia State University. With China's ban on foreign social media platforms and the Chinese Communist Party's censorship of potentially sensitive comments, commentators often use the war as a platform to discuss not only the event itself but also broader topics such as the government's stance, national priorities, and the state-society relationship.

Zhou stated that the views expressed on Weibo can be attributed to the prevailing anti-US sentiments and China's long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.

"Many comments also highlight Chinas peace-making efforts and draw parallels between the suffering of the Palestinian people and Chinas own historical experiences with colonization."