As America becomes increasingly aware of the strategic danger posed by the People’s Republic of China, conventional wisdom gravitates toward the opinion that Washington must turn its attention away from other parts of the world and toward East Asia and the Pacific Rim. But such an approach misreads Xi Jinping’s goals. Yair Albeck explains:
In Beijing’s grand design, the Middle East plays an indispensable role. But Western analysts have often misjudged China’s interests in the region as purely commercial. While Xi values the region for its economic potential, he sees it as one of the most important arenas of competition with the United States.
In the United Arab Emirates, China has constructed facilities at Khalifa Port and a pipeline stretching from the major oil field in Habshan to the Port of Fujairah. China has also invested in the Duqm Port in Oman. These projects demonstrate China’s focus on bolstering its trade with the Gulf and ensuring the smooth flow of oil from the region. Consequently, it is emerging as a dominant player in renewable energy and a major participant in the fossil-fuels market.
These endeavors lay the groundwork for a prospective military presence, in accordance with Beijing’s long-articulated principle of “first civilian, then military.” Because the Middle East is vital for China’s energy future, this approach will further solidify China’s long-term energy security and improve its self-sufficiency.
To maintain its leadership role in the Middle East, the U.S. needs to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring the security of its allies in the region. To this end, Washington possesses one crucial advantage over Beijing: the ability to back its commitments with military power. This advantage should form the core of any long-term vision the U.S. presents to its regional partners. Washington should explain how it will ensure stability and prosperity, prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and stop Tehran’s proxy attacks on U.S. allies. Otherwise, the U.S. risks creating a vacuum that only Beijing can fill.
Read more on Hudson Institute: https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/xi-jinping-vision-middle-east-yair-albeck