China’s Middle East Strategy

In the past decade, China has ramped up its engagement in the Middle East, a region which is far from China geographically, but carries growing importance in China’s foreign policy. Economically, China is the biggest importer of the Middle East oil, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Chinese state-owned enterprises have invested heavily in the region under the Belt and Road Initiative with an emphasis on physical and digital infrastructure, including telecommunications, 5G connectivity, submarine optic cables, and security information systems. Diplomatically, China played a role in brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two longstanding regional rivals. Beijing has also been instrumental in expanding the BRICS multilateral mechanism to include four Middle East countries.

Securing access to vital natural resources is a key driver of Beijing’s intensified engagement in the Middle East. But China’s interests are broader and encompass economic, geopolitical and strategic considerations.

To further discuss China’s interests and evolving role in the Middle East, Michael Schuman joins host Bonnie Glaser. Michael is a nonresident senior fellow at the Global China Hub of the Atlantic Council and an author and journalist with more than 25 years of on-the-ground experience in Asia. He is the co-author of a recently published report by the Atlantic Council titled “China’s Middle East policy shift from ‘hedging’ to ‘wedging.’”

Episode Highlights

[02:06] China’s Interest in the Middle East

[04:23] Evaluating China’s Strategy of “Wedging”

[06:51] Evaluating China’s Position of Neutrality

[10:17] Factors Driving China’s Middle Eastern Strategy

[13:46] Chinese Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement

[16:08] China’s Energy Ties with the Middle East

[17:39] US-China Competition Impacting the Global South

[19:41] Implications for the United States

[20:35] Tokyo’s Concerns Over China’s Influence

[24:19] Limits to Chinese Engagement