With Palestinian deal and Ukrainian foreign minister’s visit, China shows its rising influence

Associated Press

In consecutive days this week, China brokered a deal between rival Palestinian factions and hosted Ukraine’s foreign minister at a key moment in the grinding war there. While it’s unclear if the agreement between Hamas and Fatah will succeed where others have failed and there is little concrete progress towards peace in Ukraine, China emerged a winner. The moves further cemented its role as a diplomatic force on the global stage, not just an economic powerhouse. As Beijing and Washington vie for influence around the world, China is increasingly playing a role that had previously been the domain of world powers like the U.S. and Russia.