China just like most Middle East countries had felt the impact of aggressive imperialism and can relate to these countries’ need to defend their sovereignty against foreign aggression. China seeks out new allies in the Middle East and developing countries who share its cultural revolutionary ideals. The Middle Eastern culture just like China’s was left largely untouched by imperialist conquest and subsequent rule. For this research paper I shall examine the foreign policy that China has adapted towards countries in the Orient. The paper will seek the answer to the following question. Does Chinese military intervention in the Middle East increase its foreign policy role? The paper will first explore the argument that Chinese involvement in the Middle East extends simply to peacekeeping in countries such as Lebanon and anti-piracy operations off the coasts of Oman and Saudi Arabia. The counter argument is that, China just like the United States arms countries in the region. In addition, it will investigate whether China still seeks approval from the United States. This research paper is important to policy makers in understanding the growing Chinese influence and its likely effect on the balance of power.
Introduction
My hypothesis is that China’s role in the Middle East is much more expansive than just peace keeping and anti-piracy operation, and that China sells arms to Countries in the Orient but no longer feels the need to seek approval from the United States. This can be attributed to the fact that China is just as dominant as the United States economically, sociocultural, and politically. Increase in Chinese military intervention in the Middle East increases its foreign policy role in the region. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Lebanon have been increasingly relying on help from Beijing. This is against the backdrop of increasing hostility towards the United States and the West in general by countries of Middle Eastern origin. This doesn’t come as a surprise considering the West’s capitalist ventures in this region which are usually militarily backed, think of United States invasion of Iraq and other sovereign nations such as Libya. China on the other hand, has largely avoided interfering in the internal affairs of foreign states. As an ally, Beijing offers access to the same economic and military resources as the United States at competitive prices and without the bureaucratic hoops employed by Washington.
This research is important because it comes at a time when Beijing and Washington are on extreme ends of the foreign policy spectrum: one policy is inward looking and their other outward-looking. China has been expanding its role overseas at a time when America is retreating from its global role. Xi Jinping’s foreign policy has seen China take an increasingly center stage role in United Nations peace missions to Africa, the Middle East, and other volatile regions. Traditionally, the West enjoyed more sway in the Security Council. However, China’s increasing participation in missions give the country more clout in the United Nations. China current contributes more forces to United Nations’ peacekeeping than any other of the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council. Peace keeping missions serve Beijing in two ways. First and foremost, China sees it as a responsibility to maintain stability in order to protect their investment in foreign lands. In addition, peace-keeping missions are a chance for Beijing to boost its international image as well as its global status.
Historically, China has taken the backseat in international matters especially in the Middle East. Its role for most part was largely humanitarian or infrastructure focused. That has been changing rapidly since this decade began, and China has put boots on foreign soil in unprecedented numbers. The shift in China’s foreign policy in the Middle East might result in more stability, this in turn will reduce American influence in the Orient and establish it as a dominant force. Even though China’s force are largely untested on the battlefield, they are still a force to reckon Taking a lead in international affairs makes it well positioned to acquire allies in regions that suffer from perpetual conflict such as the Middle East. Countries in this area are out to gain allies that can protect their borders and interests. China participates in peacekeeping missions and antipiracy operations in some of these countries putting it in pole position to enter into mutually beneficial agreements. Case in point, Beijing now relies very heavily on the Middle East’s oil and gas resources, and has watched as the conflict in Syria spiraled out of control. Choosing to stay on the sidelines for the majority of the conflict, China might now have its forces dispatched by the United Nations to guard its interests in the area. Of course, China’s non-interference policy will see it steer clear of the US-led campaign in Syria.
Currently China has sent over a thousand troops to Lebanon to provide peace between Israeli and Hezbollah forces. China has also send military and humanitarian aid to Syria. The United States reluctance to provide military technology to some of the countries in the Middle East has seen China win big in terms of allies. Moreover, the economic support that China offers countries sanctioned by the United States and its large oil consumption (second only to the United States) makes China a very attractive ally. After the American invasion in 2003 and the reluctance by western countries to buy her oil, China presented an alternative revenue avenue that benefited both countries. China exports arms to many countries in the world including but not limited to the Middle East. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China has sold arms to more than eight South Eastern Asia countries. In this region, the United States is the traditionally the dominant arms dealer. China’s weaponry has been described as robust as well as cheap and come with better terms of payment. Moreover, these weapons are provided with a less rigorous approval or vetting process such as that employed by the United States and most Western countries. China already supplies its weapons to Laos and Colombia.
Over the past decade, Chinese policy in the Middle East has become more active. China’s search for oil and gas to fuel its economic growth has led to establish ties with nations in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. Beijing has worked with this governments allowing them to export Islamism and import arms. China on the other hand, acquires oil and gas to run its industries. Chinese foreign policy in the last decade has not shied away from direct confrontation with United States.’ Case in point, a few days after the re-election of Bush China signed a deal with Iran worth over a hundred million dollars over a period of thirty years. This was despite the United States having threatened to refer Iran to the United Nation’s Security Council over its nuclear program. Such a move was unprecedented and signified Beijing’s new commitment to its goals and aggression towards Washington’s interests in the Middle East. China challenged the United States’ policy in the Middle East directly and there were no negative repercussions.
Chinese strategy in the Middle East and developing countries has involved the buying of equity stakes in development projects or funding them on loan. Iran and Saudi Arabia are among the biggest exporters of oil in the Orient. The Middle East is an area that is prone to conflict. Thus it is prudent for countries in this region to have competent military capabilities. Traditionally, the United States has been the biggest dealer of arms in the Middle East. However, acquiring arms from the United States is accompanied by conditions and a rigorous approval process. This means that Washington could not satisfy Tehran and Riyadh’s thirst for both conventional and unconventional arms. China however, was willing to sell arms to these countries without making them too uncomfortable and at a competitive price. In addition, the United States invasion of Iraq in rattled her neighbors especially Iran. A new ally as powerful as China would go a long way in guarding Tehran’s interests against increasing western aggression.
The Middle East remains an attractive region for China for several reasons. First and foremost is of course the extensive resources in terms of gas and oil. The region has a history of hostility towards the West and may perceive China as more friendly. In addition, Central Asian oil and gas resources present alternative to the Middle East but the political instability in the area makes pipelines vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Another alternative is Russia but the unpredictable oil politics in the country makes it unreliable as well. Furthermore, the countries still don’t trust each other. China’s relationship with Iran is quite old and in addition to selling weapons such as missiles to Tehran, Beijing’s is willing to transfer knowledge and expertise in the development of more arms. A report by the CIA in 2003 claimed that China, Russia, and North Korea as the biggest providers of arms and related technology to Iran. China’s obstruction efforts on the United States foreign policy regarding Iran is still yet to elicit a strong response form the United States. The United States imposed sanctions on a number of Chinese firms in an effort to stop the proliferation of missile technology to Iran but the effectiveness of such actions is yet to be seen.
Sino-Arabian relationships have been ongoing since the nineties but have grown more expansive in recent times. These two countries have a lot of similarities. For instance, a desire to liberate their economies. China has been pursuing self-sufficiency or self-reliance goals since the turn of the century thanks to the Isolationist policy the United States had adopted towards the country. Saudi Arabia on the other hand, seeks the ability to defend its territory from external aggression such as invasion by the West. In addition, both countries have deep cultures and seek to maintain the status quo in religion and politics. Riyadh and Beijing thus have the desire to undermine the global dominance of the United States and have repeatedly criticized the United States interventionist policies in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. China’s economy is still growing and the resources of gas and oil possessed by the Middle East are key to its continued economic growth. The Chinese will acquire oil and natural gas to fuel economic growth at home. In exchange, these countries in the Middle East get military hardware and software they need to secure their borders and interest. This is a mutual relationship expected to be long-lasting.
Conclusion
As the United States under Trump retreats behind nationalistic walls, China steps up its global domination efforts. China’s foreign policy in the middles east has evolved from simple peacekeeping and anti-piracy campaigns to more expansive sale of arms and economic empowerment. As China takes a more central role in global politics, it is likely that more countries in the Middle East, Africa and other regions will establish long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with the country. What remains to be seen is the United States response to renewed Chinese aggression. China is the one country in the world that can challenge the United States’ status quo as the world’s superpower thanks to its economic, technological, and military capabilities. What is clear however, is that China is not slowing down anytime soon. Inadequate resources at home has made the country turn to external sources. The Middle East remains the world’s richest region in terms of oil and natural gas and is thus a very strategic area of interest for an economy of China’s appetites. Therefore, increased Chinese participation in global affairs signifies the commitment towards securing resources to ensure sustainability of the Chinese revolution.
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