This book examines Sino-Middle Eastern relations on a bilateral
level since World War II. It highlights the depth of China's
involvement in the region with each country on a five dimensional
approach: energy security, trade relations, political relations,
arms sales/security cooperation, and cultural relations. Regarding
each of these criteria, the Middle East holds a strategic
significance to China's national security, vital interests,
territorial integrity, sovereignty, regime survival, and economic
prosperity. China has been an integral part of the political
developments on the Middle Eastern political scene. It has
supported the region's quest for independence and national
liberation, exchanged diplomatic recognition with the region and
established political partnerships with the Middle East. Trade
relations are an essential element of China's involvement in the
Middle East. Their bilateral trade volume exceeds $220 billion
annually, and is steadily heading toward $500 billion by the end of
2015. The Middle East supplies fifty-four percent of China's energy
needs, and is expected to provide seventy percent of China's
imports by 2020. Energy security has become the core of Sino-Middle
Eastern relations and the main goal of its increasing involvement
in the region. China has also become a main source of arms sales to
the region. The Middle East influenced Chinese culture and language
immensely, simultaneously, influenced by Chinese culture,
traditions and customs. Apparently, the peoples of the Middle East
are enthusiastic about China's role in the region. However, the
American so called "pivoting out" and China's imminent "pivoting
in" brings tremendous levels of anxiety in the region. A similar
situation occurred a century ago, when the people of the region,
the social and political movements in the Middle East, and the
governments of the region, solicited and welcomed the American
involvement in the region, something they deeply resent and regret.
China seems to be going through the same path, and the people of
the region have begun to scrutinize its presence. If Beijing
continues its inconsistent policy in the region, its injudicious
support to autocracies, it will defiantly mobilize popular
resentment against its involvement in the Middle East. Therefore,
its presence might not endure in comparison to the American,
British, or French presence in the Middle East.
General
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