Spokesman says Beijing "appalled" at IDF flotilla raid.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSchina 311(photo credit: AP)
BEIJING — China has condemned the fatal IDF raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound ships in which at least nine people were killed and dozens wounded."China is appalled and condemns the Israeli navy's attack on the Turkish fleet shipping humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement late Monday.RELATED:Peres next month to be first president to visit South KoreaBeijing's condemnation of the raid contrasts with the cautious position it has taken amid rising tensions between its neighbors. China has expressed no support for proposed UN sanctions against ally North Korea over its alleged sinking of a South Korean warship."China urges Israel to abide by the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council in every detail, and improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," Ma said.While Beijing is not traditionally a heavyweight in Middle East diplomacy, China in recent years has become more active, seeing stability in the Middle East as helping to secure the oil and gas imports the Chinese economy relies on.China has previously criticized the government's move to build in east Jerusalem, saying it poses new obstacles to the Middle East peace process.
