According to a comprehensive investigation by Ynet, China has embedded itself deeply into Israel's national infrastructure over the past decade, acquiring operational control of the Haifa Bay Port through state-owned SIPG and installing surveillance equipment throughout the country, despite repeated warnings from American allies and domestic security officials about the risks to national security.
The shift in China-Israel relations became publicly evident when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused Beijing of waging a "cognitive battle" against Israel, marking a rare moment of open confrontation between the two nations. This diplomatic tension represents a stark departure from years of Israeli efforts to maintain quiet relations with the rising superpower.
"Critical infrastructure should never be in the hands of a foreign power with interests contrary to ours," warned Dr. Harel Menashri, head of cyber studies at Holon Institute of Technology and a former founding official of the Shin Bet's cyber division. "On a day of reckoning, they could disrupt operations—or worse, access sensitive information."
The security concerns extend beyond ports. Chinese-manufactured cameras, produced by a company blocked by the United States, are integrated into Israel's "Hawk Eye" police surveillance system. Chinese firms have also secured involvement in Tel Aviv's light rail project, creating what experts describe as multiple potential security vulnerabilities.
Beijing's stance hardened significantly following the Gaza war. China blocked a UN Security Council resolution condemning Hamas, accused Israel of "collective punishment" and "forcible displacement," and coordinated with Russia and Iran in spreading antisemitic propaganda online, according to investigations by The New York Times. This diplomatic hostility coincided with a 28% drop in Israeli exports to China in the first half of 2025.
The China-Iran alliance poses particular dangers for Israeli security. Beijing imported 91% of Iran's oil exports in 2023, injecting billions into Tehran's economy despite international sanctions. The two nations signed a comprehensive military and economic pact in 2021 and have conducted joint naval exercises with Russia. Israeli forces have discovered Chinese-manufactured weapons, including rifles and anti-tank systems, in Gaza, raising concerns about Beijing's role in rearming Iranian proxies.
China's influence operations extend into Israeli academia through "Confucius Institutes" at Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University, which critics say serve as vehicles for political influence and potential espionage. The Technion's agreement to open a branch campus in China in exchange for $130 million effectively grants Beijing access to Israeli intellectual property.
Social media platform TikTok has become a battleground for anti-Israel content, with pro-Hamas videos outnumbering pro-Israel content by 50 to 1, according to Menashri. China's embassy has also directly threatened Israeli lawmakers who engage with Taiwan, warning MK Boaz Toporovsky he would "shatter into pieces" for violating Beijing's "One China" policy.
Analysts interpret China's actions as part of a broader strategy to displace American influence in the Middle East while securing access to Israeli technology and establishing strategic footholds along the Mediterranean. "Israel must wake up to the risks before it is too late," Menashri cautioned. "China wants influence, but at the price of Israel's security."
Photo: Gemini AI