China views Major General Hassan Rashad, the current head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate under President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi”, as a pivotal figure in the stability of the Middle East. It supports his role in regional mediation regarding the Palestinian issue and within the Gaza Strip, which aligns with China’s own intelligence vision of “common security.” China values the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East and considers Major General Rashad’s actions concerning the Gaza Strip a crucial part of international efforts to achieve peace. Therefore, China closely followed the appointment of Major General Rashad to the Gaza Executive Council (within the framework of the international peace plan), viewing his presence as a guarantee for the implementation of security and humanitarian arrangements and a safeguard against any projects aimed at displacing Palestinians. China is keen to maintain continuous communication with Cairo and understand the role of its General Intelligence Directorate in order to coordinate Chinese and Egyptian perspectives on early recovery and reconstruction plans in the besieged Gaza Strip. China has also expressed its support for Egyptian initiatives aimed at enabling the Palestinian Authority to resume its functions.
China and Major General Hassan Rashad, the head of Egyptian General Intelligence, are linked to the Palestinian issue and the management of the Gaza Strip from different angles. Beijing supports a comprehensive, just, and sustainable solution to the Palestinian question and opposes any Israeli-American attempts to displace Palestinians. Meanwhile, Major General Rashad plays a pivotal role in Egyptian mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and manage the humanitarian situation in Gaza. China, in conjunction with the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, consistently emphasizes that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the fundamental solution to the issue. Given the shared Egyptian-Chinese intelligence consensus on categorically opposing the displacement of Palestinians, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has declared its firm rejection of any statements or actions that lead to the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents, affirming that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian territories. China has repeatedly called on the UN Security Council to take all necessary measures to achieve a permanent and lasting ceasefire and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Gaza Strip. China has also voted in favor of the State of Palestine at the United Nations and has, on occasion, blocked US attempts to obstruct ceasefire resolutions.
Therefore, Major General Hassan Rashad, as head of Egyptian intelligence, became a pivotal figure in Chinese political, diplomatic, intelligence, security, military, intellectual, and analytical circles. This was due to his management of ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations, as well as China’s ongoing monitoring of his meetings with the Palestinian committee. He recently received, on January 17, 2026, the Palestinian committee tasked with managing the Gaza Strip to discuss steps for assuming its responsibilities and improving the humanitarian situation there. This was coupled with Chinese-Egyptian intelligence coordination on humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Relevant Chinese authorities also followed up on Major General Rashad’s emphasis, during his meetings, on Egypt’s commitment to the committee’s success and its support in fulfilling its mission, which focuses on delivering aid and reconstruction within the Gaza Strip.
China views Egyptian intelligence, under the leadership of Major General Rashad, as the most capable “regional guarantor” for managing the complex balance between Palestinian factions and Israel. China highly values the efforts of Egyptian intelligence and its head, Major General Hassan Rashad, in consolidating ceasefire agreements and facilitating prisoner exchange negotiations. In addition to praising Major General Rashad’s leadership role in managing the Palestinian issue and the Gaza Strip, official Chinese media outlets, such as “Xinhua News Agency”, have highlighted his intensive meetings, including his recent meeting in January 2026 with the Palestinian Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip to discuss the steps for assuming its administrative responsibilities. This reflects a clear Chinese recognition of his role in the post-war arrangements.
China appreciates the pivotal role played by Egyptian General Intelligence and its head, Major General Hassan Rashad, in the Gaza Strip file, considering it a cornerstone for achieving regional stability. China also adopts a positive and supportive view of the role played by Major General Hassan Rashad, head of Egyptian General Intelligence, in the Gaza Strip file, particularly regarding mediation efforts and post-war arrangements. This Chinese perspective on the role of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate is highlighted by Chinese support for Egypt’s mediation efforts. China values Egypt’s historical and ongoing role in mediating between the Palestinian and Israeli parties and considers Major General Hassan Rashad’s meetings with the “Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip” a vital step to ensure administrative and humanitarian stability in the Strip. This is further evidenced by the extensive official media coverage by Chinese state media outlets supporting the role of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate within the Gaza Strip. The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, provides extensive coverage of Major General Hassan Rashad’s activities in this matter, focusing on his pledges to support the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with managing Gaza’s affairs. This reflects Beijing’s interest in the success of the Egyptian role in consolidating the ceasefire.
There is a convergence between the Egyptian intelligence vision and the Chinese vision for peace, as the role of Egyptian General Intelligence intersects with China’s vision, which calls for “Palestinian rule by Palestinians” and strengthening the role of Palestinian national institutions in managing the Gaza Strip. China views the efforts of Major General Hassan Rashad, particularly in light of his membership in the “Gaza Executive Council” under the international plan supported by the Security Council (Resolution 2803), as a fundamental pillar for implementing the second phase of the peace plan and ensuring the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid.
China’s vision of the role of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate and its head, Major General Hassan Rashad, revolves around several key points, most notably: (Supporting mediation and de-escalation efforts): China commends Egypt’s ongoing and positive efforts to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, closely followed Major General Rashad’s meetings with Palestinian faction delegations, considering these moves essential to ensuring stability in the Palestinian territories. China also supports the Egyptian intelligence service regarding the coordination mechanism for post-war arrangements in Gaza. Chinese state media highlighted Major General Rashad’s meeting with the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip in January 2026 as a practical step towards handing over administrative responsibilities within the Strip. China views the Egyptian role, particularly that of the intelligence service, as a guarantee for the success of future administrative and humanitarian arrangements in Gaza.
We find a kind of political alignment between China and Egyptian intelligence regarding the Palestinian issue. China’s vision coincides with the Egyptian intelligence position on the necessity of preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians and preserving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. China also affirms its support for Egypt in playing a consistent and constructive role in resolving the Palestinian issue justly and comprehensively, in accordance with international law. Furthermore, there is international and regional Chinese-Egyptian intelligence cooperation on the Palestinian issue and the Gaza Strip. China has observed Major General Hassan Rashad’s participation in extensive international talks, such as the Sharm El-Sheikh talks, alongside major international players. This reflects international recognition and Chinese approval of this leading Egyptian intelligence role in managing the crisis.
Here, we can glean insights into the Chinese perspective on the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate and its head, Major General Hassan Rashad, from the following points, most notably: the (Official Chinese media interest in the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate): Chinese state media outlets, such as Xinhua News Agency and the Arabic version of China.org.cn, have followed Major General Hassan Rashad’s activities with keen interest, particularly in the context of the Palestinian issue and the administration of the Gaza Strip. With a special Chinese appreciation for Egypt’s regional role and that of its General Intelligence Directorate, Major General Hassan Rashad’s vision aligns with Chinese foreign policy on key issues, most importantly the rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians and the necessity of strengthening regional stability through a “technocratic committee” to administer Gaza efforts that Chinese media outlets portray as positive steps toward peace. With the (China’s call for the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate to guarantee the Sino-Egyptian strategic partnership): China views the General Intelligence Directorate as a cornerstone of Egypt’s stability and considers continued (coordination with its leadership), under the current head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate/Hassan Rashad, a guarantee for protecting China’s shared economic and strategic interests with Egypt within the framework of the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries. Finally, the Egyptian-Chinese intelligence alignment in combating terrorism stands out. It’s noteworthy that Chinese media supports Egyptian efforts in counterterrorism and border conflicts, such as the Libyan file. These files are overseen by Major General Hassan Rashad, head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, and Beijing considers them essential for securing international trade and shipping routes.
In general, the relationship between China and the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate is characterized by a high level of strategic and security cooperation. The years 2024-2026 witnessed a significant development in joint Egyptian-Chinese intelligence coordination on complex regional and international issues, coinciding with the deepening of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. The most prominent features of this cooperation and the security and political convergences between China and the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate were evident in their coordination on regional crises and the Gaza issue. The Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate played a prominent role in coordinating with the Chinese side to support de-escalation in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, relevant circles in Beijing followed closely in January 2026 the Egyptian intelligence chief’s meeting with the “Gaza Strip Management Committee” to discuss the next phase. This move was closely monitored by Beijing as part of its support for Egyptian and Arab efforts to stabilize the region. Given China’s particular interest in the Egyptian intelligence service’s efforts to safeguard national security, Chinese officials met with the Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Security Council, Youssef Ala’a El-Din, to discuss the conflict in Gaza and the Ukrainian crisis, reflecting a convergence of security perspectives between Cairo and Beijing.
Furthermore, Egyptian intelligence cooperation with China is evident in the areas of information and technology, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Egypt and China signed memoranda of understanding in 2025 covering cooperation in cloud computing, artificial intelligence language systems, and digital infrastructure. This type of Sino-Egyptian cooperation intersects with the information security interests overseen by the sovereign state institutions in both China and Egypt. To that end, Egyptian intelligence cooperation with China aims to localize and transfer sensitive Chinese technological industries to Cairo, such as fiber optics and electronic chip design, thereby strengthening the independence of Egypt’s information infrastructure.
Egyptian intelligence cooperation with China and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is prominent in the military and security dimension, which was clearly demonstrated during the “Eagles of Civilization 2025 Maneuvers” between Egypt and China. The two countries conducted the first joint air training of its kind in April and May 2025, with the participation of multi-mission fighters, with the aim of unifying combat concepts and exchanging experiences. With the joint Egyptian-Chinese military and intelligence agreement to diversify Egypt’s arms sources in response to Tel Aviv’s attempts to destabilize Egypt and undermine security in Sinai on the border, aiming to force everyone to submit to Israel’s demands regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip, reports indicate an Egyptian move to acquire advanced Chinese military technologies, such as J-10C fighter jets and HQ-9B air defense systems.
This represents a decisive Chinese intelligence and military initiative to reduce Egypt’s military dependence on Western sources, an initiative supported and coordinated by the sovereign authorities in both Egypt and China.
Egyptian intelligence cooperation with China is also highlighted in the “Strategic Partnership 2025-2029 agreement” between the two countries. In July 2025, Egypt and China signed their first development cooperation strategy for the years 2025-2029, which includes massive infrastructure and biosecurity projects, such as the establishment of a Level 3 biosafety laboratory. To this end, the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate serves as a key liaison with China in managing this partnership, particularly regarding securing substantial Chinese investments (which exceeded $16 billion in trade in 2025) and ensuring joint Chinese-Egyptian political, security, and intelligence coordination in international forums.
Based on our understanding, China considers the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, under the leadership of Major General Hassan Rashad, to be a “voice of wisdom and calm” in managing all related files. Furthermore, Chinese-Egyptian intelligence cooperation is crucial in managing the Gaza Strip file, which supports the transition towards peace and reconstruction. China also believes that the actions of Egyptian intelligence chief Major General Hassan Rashad enhance the chances of reaching a comprehensive political solution and support efforts to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which aligns with the “Chinese Position Paper” calling for concerted regional and international efforts to achieve peace.
