The United States wants rewards, China wants to become a catalyst for change, China | Middle East | United States
With China successfully mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia and reiterating its willingness to play a positive role in promoting Palestinian Israeli peace talks, the report on the website of Türkiye's Anadolu News Agency on June 14 asked: Is China filling the vacuum formed by the United States in the Middle East?
It is reported that during his visit to Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that Washington "does not require anyone to make a choice between the US and China".
Although his words are vague, the location of his speech provides many clues: Saudi Arabia, and more importantly, the Middle East.
This is a turbulent region, relationships are changing, and the balance of power is clearly changing.
In March, the world heard the news of a reconciliation agreement reached between Saudi Arabia and Iran through China's mediation. Antony Blinken is the third senior US official to visit Saudi Arabia since then.
According to reports, during Palestinian President Abbas's state visit to China this week, China expressed its willingness to play a positive role in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks for the Palestinian side.
Given the significant geopolitical significance of this series of events, the question raised is whether this is one of China's efforts to fill the vacuum formed by the United States in the Middle East.
On December 6, 2022, Saudi Arabian ceremonial soldiers conducted exercises on the eve of the China Arab Summit and the China Gulf Cooperation Council Summit.
Anadolu News Agency interviewed two experts on this issue.
Aina Tangen, Senior Researcher at Taihe Think Tank in Beijing, said that the United States has shifted from being an "energy customer" of Middle Eastern countries to a "major energy competitor.".
He said, "The relationship has undergone tremendous changes, especially with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the entire region."
He also said that as Beijing is a major energy buyer of the Gulf Cooperation Council, he hopes for political stability in the Middle East.
Professor Fan Hongda from the Institute of Middle East Studies at Shanghai Foreign Studies University said that China's primary concern in the Middle East is "economic and trade cooperation.".
Fan Hongda emphasized that there is a "huge difference" in the diplomatic policies of China and the United States in the region.
He said he disagrees with China's view that it will fill the vacuum left by the United States in the Middle East. In fact, the influence and attractiveness of the United States in the Middle East are still unmatched by other external countries.
He emphasized that Middle Eastern countries need to achieve strategic autonomy, which is a key guarantee for lasting stability, peace, and development in the region. China welcomes such a Middle East because it is a guarantee for deepening exchanges between the two sides.
Tang Gen stated that China believes that the United States' actions in the Middle East are "harmful," especially due to years of "direct interference.".
He said, "It can be seen that China's efforts are not to give orders to benefit itself... but to try to get them to negotiate, not fight."
He also said that although many people are talking about China "filling the vacuum left by the United States," "overall and essentially, China's participation is not American colonial rule, but constructive consensus building.".
He said, "China's account of the emerging multilateral reality is the rise of the 'global south'."
He said, "This is not a matter of choosing sides... China hopes to become a catalyst for change, which is different from brokers like the United States who hope to receive rewards."
