China–Israel relations

The People's Republic of China (PRC) and the State of Israel formally established diplomatic relations in 1992. While the Republic of China had de jure recognized Israeli sovereignty in 1949, it eventually lost the Chinese Civil War, bringing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to power across mainland China. In 1950, Israel became the first country in the Middle East to recognize the PRC as the sole government in mainland China, but the CCP did not reciprocate by establishing diplomatic ties due to Israel's alignment with the Western Bloc during the Cold War. This discontent persisted until the Cold War came to a close with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

China has been Israel's third largest trading partner globally and its largest trading partner in East Asia. Bilateral trade volume increased from $50 million in 1992 to over $10 billion in 2013. Israel has traded significantly with China in technology and arms. Some commentators note similarities between the culture and values of the two nations, as well as their shared economic interests. Following the October 7 attacks, commentators generally note a worsening in relations between the two countries. In the United Nations, China has long voted in support of the State of Palestine and against Israel. In 2024, public opinion polling showed a majority of Israelis consider China to be unfriendly or hostile toward Israel. In 2025, China's top diplomats condemned Israel's strikes on Iran.

Israel maintains an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, while China maintains an embassy in Tel Aviv.