Thread by @WilliamYang120

As the US remains isolated at the UN due to its stance over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, #China seizes the chance to burnish its multilateral leadership credentials. usnews.com/news/world/art…

"The U.S. position is a gift to China, frankly. The U.S. has been trying to put pressure on China to back U.N. action over situations like Myanmar, and now Washington is stopping the Security Council speaking on the Middle East," said @RichardGowan1.

"This is hurting the Biden team's reputation at the U.N., and leaves China looking like the responsible power."

A senior U.S. administration official said China's government "doesn't care about Israel and Gaza. lt does look for every opportunity to distract from its acts of genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

It's the United States that is engaging in intensive diplomacy with Israeli, Palestinian, and other regional leaders to bring an end to the violence," the official said.

China’s mission to the United Nations hit back, saying the U.S. comments were "untrue and distracting." "Conflict in Gaza continues, and civilian casualties increase with each passing day.

In the face of such a situation, anyone in good conscience will call for cessation of hostilities," a spokesperson said. "The U.S. has every opportunity to prove that it cares about Muslims."

Since taking office in January, Democrat Biden has stressed the importance of U.S. re-engagement with the 193-member world body to challenge China.

But the U.S. objection to a council statement on Israel and Gaza - drafted by China, Tunisia and Norway - has left a lot of countries frustrated, diplomats said.

"It is clear that China wants to profit from U.S. isolation over Gaza and is putting itself in an unusual leadership position on Palestinian issues," said a second U.N. Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A spokesperson for China's U.N. mission told Reuters: "Most members of the Security Council hope to see the council play a role in promoting a ceasefire and stopping the violence. China, as president of the council, must fulfill its responsibility."

Biden's foreign policy moves have so far largely been centered on China, Russia and Iran, but he has now been forced to focus on the Middle East conflict.

"China has played it nicely; they are positioning themselves as a Middle East player and with some good reason too because others have been less engaged," said a senior Asian U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.