China and the Palestinian Organizations

Dr. Shai Har-El is a scholar, educator, writer, poet, activist, and businessman. He is the founder/president of the Middle East Peace Network (MEPN), and a fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies in University of Chicago. He is the author of several book and essays on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

• Introduction.- China and the Middle East: Dual Approach.- The Palestinian Organizations: An Historical Background.- The Pre-1964 Chinese Position on the Palestine Questions.- Part One.- China’s Relations With Shuqayrī’s PLO, 1964–1967.- China Becomes Committed To The Palestine Question.- A. Expressions of Support for Arab Cause in Palestine.- B. Chinese Reaction to Creation of the PLO.- Establishment Of Ties Between China And The PLO.- A. Shuqayrī’s Visit to Peking.- B. PLO Mission Established in Peking.- C. Shuqayrī Creates a Commotion About Chinese-PLO Links.- D. Discord with the UAR.- E. Chinese Links with Fatḥ.- China’s Influence Over The PLO.- A. Chinese Military Assistance to PLO Begins.- B. PLO Sides with China in the Sino-Soviet Conflict.- C. Arab Criticism of PLO’s Communist Links.- D. Shuqayrī Continues Collaboration with China.- China, The PLO, and the Six-Day War.- A. China Promises “Support”.- B. China Uses the War to Discredit the Soviet Union.- C. Shuqayrī Expects Chinato Rebuild PLA.- Part Two.- China’s Relations With The Fidā’ Iyyūn Movement, 1967–1971.- China Forges Links With Fatḥ.- A. Dual Linkage with Fatḥ and PLO.- B. China’s Attention to Fatḥ Deepens.- China’s Turning To Overt Ties With Fatḥ-PLO (Summer 1969).- A. Reactivation of Ties with PLO.- B. Fatḥ Receives Chinese Recognition.- China’s Counteraction Against Soviet Moves Toward The Fidā’iyyūn (Fall 1969 – Spring 1970).- A. Soviet Moves Annoy China.- B. ‘Arafāt’s visit to Peking.- Heightened Chinese Interest In The Fidā’iyyūn (Summer-Fall 1970).- A. Chinese Support to Counter American Peace Initiative.- B. Chinese Nominal Involvement in Civil War.- C. PFLP-PDFLP Wing Receives Chinese Attention.- D. Chinese Assistance to aṣ-Ṣā‘iqa.- China’s Disenchantment With The Fidā’iyyūn.- A. Moral Support Against Jordanian “Reactionaries”.- B. China’s Criticism of the Fidā’iyyūn.- C. China’s Support in Decline.- D. China’s Relative Moderation at UN.- Part Three.- The Nature And Extent Of Chinese Military Support.- Arms And Materiai Assistance.- A. Types of Supplies.- B. Local Logistical Problems of Delivery.- C. China’s Internal Limitations and Considerations.- D. Other Negative Aspects of Chinese Aid.- Military And “Political” Training.- A. Training in China.- B. Chinese Training in Arab Countries.- C. Effects of Chinese Training.- D. Chinese “Volunteers”.