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The combination of domestic imperatives on the one hand, and pressures and incentives from the region on the other has impelled China to become more actively engaged in Middle East affairs-though not necessarily less cautious. Yet, at the same time, Beijing’s approach to the region has been more pragmatic than might seem obvious, or that Chinese officials, themselves, might be prepared to acknowledge publicly. Nevertheless, as many observers have noted, China remains a marginal actor in regional, political, and security affairs, largely as a matter of choice and not capabilities. As a consequence, China is a major stakeholder in regional stability. In a nutshell, since the early 1990s, China’s interactions with the MENA region have grown exponentially and the region figures prominently in Beijing’s ambitious plans going forward. The official launch in November 2013 of President Xi Xinping’s foreign policy initiative-known as “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR)-has, if anything, increased the salience of the region, as the Middle East is viewed as one of three main corridors aimed at linking China to the African and European markets. In addition, over the years, Sino-Middle Eastern economic relations have become multi-dimensional, with extensive networks of interdependence developing in both the energy and non-energy sectors. About half of China’s oil imports are sourced from the Middle East, most of that from the Persian Gulf. How well has China adapted to the conflict and instability that have swept the region? And as we enter the Year of the Red Fire Monkey, what are the concerns that are likely to preoccupy Chinese leaders? And what, if any, policy adjustments by Beijing, can realistically be expected in light of the current circumstances and uncertain prospects for the region and for China itself?Įnergy has been, and remains the bedrock of Sino-Middle Eastern relations, and energy security the highest priority for the Chinese leadership as it conducts relations with its regional counterparts. It was also a year that culminated in the issuing of China’s first “Arab Policy Paper,” which coincided with President Xi Jinping’s long-awaited, previously canceled, visit to the region-the first such visit by a Chinese leader in seven years. įebruary marks the beginning of a new phase in the Chinese lunar calendar, drawing to a close a year marked by heightened risks and fortuitous gains in China’s efforts to secure its interests in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
#Fate of the dragon series
This essay is part of the series “All About China”-a journey into the history and diverse culture of China through essays that shed light on the lasting imprint of China’s past encounters with the Islamic world as well as an exploration of the increasingly vibrant and complex dynamics of contemporary Sino-Middle Eastern relations.