The Chinese Embassy in Israel issued a sharply worded warning on Sunday to MK Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid) after he led a Knesset delegation to Taipei last week, declaring that “if he does not rein in at the brink of the precipice, he will fall and be shattered to pieces,” according to a statement on social media.
In its statement, the embassy accused Toporovsky of “repeatedly” violating Israel’s one-China policy, called him a “trouble-maker” for bilateral ties, and said he should “not delude himself that he can harm China’s core interests… without paying a price.” The remarks were published late Sunday, and framed Toporovsky’s meetings in Taipei as undermining the political foundation of China-Israel relations.
Toporovsky, who chairs the Israel–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Taiwan with MKs Michal Shir-Segman, Debbie Biton, Eli Dallal, Yael Ron Ben-Moshe, and Shalom Danino.
The delegation met President Lai Ching-te on September 16 and presented a joint declaration signed by 72 Knesset members calling to integrate Taiwan into international forums. Taiwan’s Presidential Office noted that the 72 signatories constitute a majority of the Knesset.
In July, The Jerusalem Post reported that more than 70 lawmakers had backed Taiwan’s participation in global bodies, an initiative led by Toporovsky with MK Ohad Tal. The declaration reiterated Taiwan’s support for Israel since October 7 and argued that Taipei’s expertise could benefit international institutions.
Beijing's standard position of one China
Beijing’s response reiterated its standard position that “there is but one China,” and cited the 1992 China-Israel joint communiqué, which states that Israel recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and that Taiwan is “an inalienable part” of China. Israel’s recognition is recorded in the text of the joint communiqué.
While Israel recognizes Beijing and does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, parliamentary friendship groups and visits by lawmakers have continued in recent years.
Toporovsky’s recent visit included public thanks to Taiwan for aid to Israeli communities and cooperation on technology and resilience, according to the Taiwanese readout. As of publication, the embassy’s statement did not reference any official Israeli government change to the one-China policy, and Jerusalem has not announced one.