Beijing Steps Up Its Gulf Diplomacy
During Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said’s visit to Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that “the Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena of great-power rivalry”. He further emphasised China’s commitment to regional peace, which is intended to continue contributing to resolving the “regional security dilemma”. In this context, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that its Special Envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia later this month. Beijing further expressed its intention to deepen coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Oman, which counts China as its largest trading partner, plays a key diplomatic role, as it maintains relations with all parties to the conflict.
The Challenges of China’s Middle East Strategy
Historically, China’s influence in the Middle East has been limited, particularly compared to that of the United States. However, this is gradually changing. Beijing’s growing diplomatic ambitions are filling the gaps created by the instability and uncertainty in the region, triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. China’s commercial and energy interests remain central to these efforts. Nevertheless, China’s ability to translate its ambitions into concrete diplomatic successes remains limited, as it is not prepared to assume a direct security role in the region. Furthermore, Beijing faces a delicate balancing act in building good relations with the Gulf monarchies, which have traditionally maintained close ties with Washington, while preserving its strategic partnership with Iran.
