University of world economy and diplomacy international relations faculty department of international relations

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
UNIVERSITY OF WORLD ECONOMY AND DIPLOMACY


INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FACULTY


DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


GOFUROV ILYOSBEK LATIBJON UGLI


THE MIDDLE EAST FACTOR IN CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY: A CASE OF SAUDI ARABIA


COURSE WORK

	Cheked by:
	Head of the Department of International Relations C.p.s. prof. Khasanov U.A. ___________________

Tashkent 2021

Content

Introduction 3
Chapter I. China’s Interests and Objectives in the Middle East 5
1.1.The Middle East as China’s energy supplier 5
1.2.China's silk road project 8
Chapter II. China and Saudi Arabia in modern international relations 12
2.1. Stages in the development of China-Saudi relations 12
2.2. Industrial relations between China and Saudi Arabia 22
2.3. Foreign trade relations between China and Saudi Arabia during the pandemic 23
Conclusion 28
References 29

Introduction

Once considered by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a peripheral and relatively insignificant region of the world, the Middle East now looms much larger in China’s national security calculus than ever before. Beijing’s unprecedented interest and involvement in the Middle East raises the possibility that China has ambitious designs on the region. What explains China’s increased attention to the Middle East, and what are the contours of engagement with the region?

One answer is that China is reacting to the U.S. “rebalance” to Asia, announced by the Obama administration in 2012. Another answer is that the Middle East is simply becoming increasingly important economically. Yet a third answer is that the region has become geostrategically far more important to Beijing. These last two answers suggest that the PRC’s activities have little if anything to do with U.S. policy initiatives. This study contends that Beijing is primarily focused on energy security, as well as attempting to “rebalance” its domestic, foreign, and security policies so that these are less skewed in favor of eastern China and East Asia. This Beijing rebalance, however, is neither a reaction to the Biden administration’s own rebalance nor a new phenomenon; nevertheless, the United States figures significantly in both major drivers, although China views the U.S. role very differently in each. In the context of China’s quest for energy, the United States is perceived positively because it is a key guarantor of Middle East security through its military presence and considerable geopolitical influence, thereby helping to maintain stability and hence regional economic development and uninterrupted access to energy. In the context of China’s broader security interests, the United States is perceived negatively because its alliances and forward military posture are viewed as threatening to China’s security all around its periphery, especially in East Asia.
Does China have a strategy toward the Middle East? The findings of this report suggest that the answer is yes. China appears to have adopted a “wary dragon” strategy toward the region. Beijing exhibits a deep sense of vulnerability in its engagement with the Middle East. And China endeavors to protect its expanding interests in the region by assiduously avoiding taking sides in Middle East conflicts and controversies. Moreover, China is very cautious, alarmed about becoming embroiled in Middle East controversies or getting too close to any one country in the region. This strong aversion precludes the public articulation of a Middle East policy or strategy and the making of hard commitments to any states in the region beyond those that are required to maintain cordial business relations and pragmatic diplomatic and security ties. This Middle East strategy is illuminated by focusing on China’s use of the instruments of national power applied in its relationships with Saudi Arabia and Iran, two major powers that Beijing considers as pivotal in the region. Because of Beijing’s wary-dragon strategy, while China is growing in importance in the Middle East as an economic heavy- weight, it persists as a diplomatic lightweight and is likely to remain a military featherweight in the region for the foreseeable future.