China's growing role in Middle East

By Abdalla Ahmad

What we are seeing today is US President uses force in the service of diplomacy, playing without rules and creating crises for geopolitical gains. It shows a reluctance to form a multipolar world system, which will end the absolute US hegemony, and might lead to international balance, as well as economic development, cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty of nations as China advocates.

Washington is still betting on the outcomes of approaches, which outline the lines of confrontation with Russia and China, and the challenges facing the US administration in different regions of the world, especially in the Middle East.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) attends Peace Initiatives in the Middle East Conference in Paris, capital of France, on June 3, 2016.[Photo: Xinhua]

In the Middle East, we see a dangerous escalation as the United States continues to feed conflicts in an environment full of eternal contradictions, and continues investment in extremism, terrorism, sectarianism, nationalities, ethnicities, bandits, and agents to perpetuate the chaotic tunnel of chaos for political ends.

Despite the escalating conflicts in various parts of the world, from Syria to Ukraine and in the South China Sea, there is hope in the horizon. The world is changing and the road to a multipolar world system has become a reality.

The continuation of destructive US policies in Syria, including the encouragement of Kurdish separatist movements in the east and in the north, and the obstruction of a political solution may reflect the American strategy in the Middle East which aims to extend the Syrian crisis.

In fact, the end of the Syrian crisis means the failure of the American projects in the Middle East, and means a shift in the map of international influence.

US military and political escalation in the South China Sea and in Korean Peninsula is another reflection of US strategy, where the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea is an attempt to change the balance of power in the region and threaten China.

But why does the United States fear China's rise as a superpower and a major power in the world system?

The United States has not hidden its concern about China's rise as an effective world power, which will end the unipolar geopolitical situation and thwart projects of US expansion. 

On this basis, US research centers during the last few years have been recommending the fundamentals of the US strategy change to confront China in the next two decades. They include points like:

-China has the potential to play a critical role in either reinforcing or undermining the regional and international order; 

-The course charted by China's reemergence as a great power over the next few decades represents the primary strategic challenge for the United States; 

-China's economic, military, and geopolitical influence continues to rise during this period; and

-The world will witness the largest shift in the global distribution of power since rise the United States in the 20th century.

Why is everyone in the Middle East welcoming China's growing role in the region?

A shift in the situation in the Middle East may require from five to ten years to rebuild the political system in the region, including economic and social transformation in the context of radical changes in the Arab world, as well as restoring the balance of geopolitical paths, which leads to a strengthening in the partnership with China

The Arab world looks positively to the growing role of China in the region. This is logical and natural; the region needs political cooperation and economic partnership.

The outstanding performance of China's policy, especially toward the Middle East, is a hope for the region as it stands against the Western projects aimed to destroy the Arab countries and turn them into sectarian, ethnic, religious, and hostile cantons.

China has become the Asian giant, which has the economic, political, and military power - a superpower that affects the international political system. China has established many partnerships with the countries of the Middle East and has a great influence through cooperation and partnership. 

(Abdalla Ahmad is a geopolitical analyst based in Syria)