China pivoting toward antisemitism, driven by geopolitics, report finds; China rejects ‘unfounded’ claims

Antisemitism is rising in China, a country previously considered almost free of anti-Jewish hatred, according to a new research report by the Jewish People Policy Institute.

Anti-Jewish tropes have moved from marginal online spaces into official media, academia, and state-sanctioned discourse, often through a deliberate and complete blurring of distinctions between Israel, Jews, and Judaism, the study found.

Update: After publication of this article, the Chinese Embassy in Israel firmly rejected the findings in the study, calling them unfounded and malicious, and sent a response that appears at the bottom of this article.

Using a comprehensive analysis of Chinese media publications, statements by influencers and academics and social media activity, senior JPPI fellow Shalom Wald identified an “antisemitic wave” that had intensified following the Gaza conflicts in 2021 and 2023,.

This phenomenon has wide potential ramifications given China’s global influence, noted JPPI, an independent Israeli think tank.

“When the nation with the second-largest population in the world and one of the principal architects of the global information environment permits the dissemination of antisemitic ideas, fuels them, or tolerates them, its conduct resonates far beyond its borders,” said JPPI president Yedidia Stern.

Antisemitism in China is developing without a historical background of Jewish persecution and without a significant Jewish presence in the country – a fact that makes the phenomenon particularly unique and troubling, the report found.

About 2,500 to 3,500 Jews are believed to live in mainland China, along with another 3,500 to 5,000 in Hong Kong, according to estimates.

The current trend is not “homegrown” but driven by strategic geopolitical shifts, the report said. These include China’s escalating rivalry with the United States, its growing alignment with Arab and Muslim-majority nations, and a broader adoption of anti-Western narratives.

A search for scapegoats for internal problems may also be partially to blame, it added.

China perceives Jews as having significant influence over American policy, so hostility toward the US is frequently translated into anti-Jewish rhetoric, the report said. This has led to the adoption of Western-style antisemitic tropes, such as claims of global economic control and comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

The Chinese embassy in Israel did not immediately respond to a query about the report or the country’s attitudes toward Jews.

According to JPPI, universities in China are “influential incubators” for anti-Jewish sentiment, with leading Chinese lecturers and students increasingly adopting extreme anti-Israel positions that cross into explicit antisemitism. This is particularly concerning because they are training the next generation of Chinese decision-makers, the report warned.

Chinese social media platforms have also become fertile ground for propaganda, as popular influencers, some with millions of followers, publish overtly anti-Jewish content.

Because China maintains strict control over digital and other media, this may suggest that these ideas are “officially sanctioned” or at least tolerated by authorities, the report suggested.

Wald noted the case of a blogger with 15 million followers who quoted from “Mein Kampf” and “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” and told readers to identify Jews by their “long nose.” Another online influencer cited in the report declared after October 7 that “Hamas acted too softly.”

Antisemitism has historically been absent from China’s political landscape and the country had long celebrated the role of Shanghai as a sanctuary for more than 20,000 Jewish refugees during World War II, JPPI said.

Wald himself previously wrote in 2004 that the Chinese reflect little or none of the traditional forms of antisemitism, although he warned then of the risk of a resurgence of “the old canard of a Jewish world conspiracy” in the country.

“Many Chinese often tend to see the Jews as a mirror of their own history, they admire Jewish wealth and successes, they respect the great contributions that Jews have made to Western civilization, and they perceive themselves and the Jews as representing the ‘two oldest living civilizations,'” the JPPI report from 2004 said.

Since Israel and China first established formal diplomatic relations in 1992, China’s mainstream discourse about Israel has been overwhelmingly positive, analysts say.

A 2014 survey by the Anti-Defamation League found that 20% of Chinese agreed with negative stereotypes of Jews, placing relatively low compared to other countries.

However, government officials have recently begun to “uproot” the positive memories from the previous century, the new report indicated.

In 2024, a nonpolitical musical about the Shanghai refugees was canceled in Beijing.

In the city of Harbin, memorial plaques were removed from buildings once belonging to the Jewish community, including the former synagogue, and a small Jewish museum was closed.

“Inevitably, the Nazi practice of eliminating all traces of Jewish contributions to Germany comes to mind,” the report said.

While in the past, Chinese nationalists often commended Jewish perseverance, stereotypes of Jewish power and wealth have been reinterpreted as evidence of a malevolent force undermining the global order, the report found.

“Philosemitism and antisemitism are two sides of the same coin in China,” the report said, suggesting that the same generalizations used to praise Jews are now used to vilify them.

The report recommended Israel push against the trend by preserving diplomatic ties with China while setting clear red lines and boundaries against antisemitic expressions. It also suggests increasing ongoing monitoring of Chinese discourse, and strengthening academic and cultural cooperation where possible.

“We must view the phenomenon with clear eyes,” Stern wrote. “The diplomatic consequences are practical and immediate. Israel must continue to maintain its invaluable relationship with the United States while preserving room for constructive engagement with China. It must mobilize Jewish communities worldwide and join forces with governments – especially in Europe – that consistently condemn antisemitic speech and actions, and impose penalties for such conduct.”

Chinese Embassy rejects report as unfounded, flawed and malicious

Following publication of this article, Zhang Guoping, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Israel, wrote to The Times of Israel to deny the findings in the report, as follows:

As the Embassy spokesperson, I hereby solemnly state that the Chinese side firmly opposes these unfounded accusations and malicious smears.

The main content cited in your article comes from a report by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). Anyone with even a basic understanding of China and China–Israel relations can see that this report contains obvious flaws and reveals the authors’ politically motivated manipulation, driven by preconceived positions and selective use of materials.

First, it generalizes from isolated cases and contradicts the facts. The report claims that “China’s Ambassador to Israel called for friendlier bilateral relations, which was not reported in China.” In fact, the Embassy’s press releases are issued in both Chinese and English, receive wide attention across Israeli society, and are frequently reposted by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and official media outlets.

Second, it makes malicious speculation and misleads readers. The report alleges that certain Jewish-related buildings in Harbin had their tags removed or were shuttered, and accuses China of eradicating “memories of Jewish history and culture.” In reality, the city of Harbin is carrying out renovation and maintenance work on some Jewish-related buildings. The report’s unverified suspicions are a distortion and insult to China’s goodwill. Comparing China’s actions to those of the Nazis is a groundless and reckless claim that confuses right and wrong. It not only seriously violates the journalistic ethics of fact-checking, but also gravely undermines the dignity of the Chinese people.

Third, it is self-contradictory and lacks basic logic. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance has a clear working definition of “antisemitism,” and the report itself acknowledges that “criticism of Israeli government policies is not antisemitism.” Yet it presents criticism of Israeli military actions by Chinese social media users as evidence of a so-called “rise of antisemitism.” On Middle East issues, the policy of the Chinese government has consistently been based on international law and fairness and justice, and has never targeted any ethnic group or race. Comments on Chinese social media reflect the spontaneous personal views and genuine desire for peace of ordinary people. The voices of the international community and the vast majority of countries have already made public sentiment clear. None of this should be equated with “antisemitism.”

Some argue that only by acknowledging the existence of antisemitism at home can it be seriously addressed and effectively countered. Israel, in fact, understands better than any country that generalizing and abusing the concept of “antisemitism” is extremely dangerous. By casually labeling other countries as “antisemitic,” this report itself tarnishes the historical efforts made by nations to combat antisemitism.

Friendship between the Chinese and Jewish peoples has a long history. During World War II, China provided refuge to more than 20,000 Jewish refugees. Harbin, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Hong Kong became safe havens for them. The Austrian Jewish doctor Jacob Rosenfeld made important contributions to the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. Through standing together in times of hardship, our peoples have left enduring stories of solidarity. The vast majority of people in both countries cherish this friendship and contribute in their own ways to maintaining China–Israel relations. Last year, the Chinese Embassy in Israel organized five delegations of representatives from Israeli media, schools, and think tanks to visit China. Upon their return, they all stated that China has no antisemitism.

We hope that, as an important Israeli media outlet, The Times of Israel will view China and China–Israel relations objectively and convey more balanced and rational perspectives to the Israeli public, rather than provide a platform for false information. The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen communication and enhance mutual trust with all sectors in Israel, including The Times of Israel, and to jointly contribute to advancing the bilateral relations.