Middle East activism

At a time when American policies are coming apart in the Middle East, China is signaling that it is ready to defend its growing economic and political interests in the region. Since the end of the Cold War, the US has been the principal external power in the Middle East. Washington will now have to reckon with Beijing’s growing profile in the region.

Unlike the UPA government, whose policy to the Middle East has been paralysed by its Communist allies, the Chinese Communist Party no longer takes an ideological approach to the region.

China, instead, acts like a great power, engaging all the parties in the Middle East. In the last few days it had hosted Iran’s principal nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, who was pleading with China to deflect western pressures at the UNSC.

A couple of days later Beijing received Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who was demanding that China join the West in tightening the squeeze against Iran’s nuclear programme. Last month, China had joined the US at the UNSC on imposing sanctions against Iran. Both Larijani and Olmert said they were pleased with the talks. What else could they say, indeed, given that they so badly need Chinese political support. Beijing’s new approach of playing all sides was also highlighted in December when it organised the first ever Track Two conference of former Israeli and Palestinian officials in China on how to advance peace between the two.

While statements on Middle East from our Foreign Office are aimed at domestic audiences, Beijing is taking difficult decisions, balancing competing forces, and making its diplomatic clout felt in the region.

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