New ChinaMed Report: Power Shifts? China's Growing Influence in the Gulf
Now available | ChinaMed’s annual report, analyzing how local media narratives in China and across the Middle East interpreted Sino-Gulf relations and the many consequential events that marked 2023.
The ChinaMed Research Team is happy to announce that our 2023 report, “Power Shifts? China's Growing Influence in the Gulf”, is now available.
In this report, we discuss the main trends in the media debates in China and in five key Middle Eastern countries – Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel – concerning China's expanding economic and diplomatic engagement in the Gulf region. Supported by descriptive statistics, each chapter explores how domestic commentators, analysts and experts analyzed the numerous consequential events that marked the year 2023, including the aftermath of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Riyadh, the China-mediated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, and the initial months of Israel's retaliatory military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Building upon the insights of the previous ChinaMed Report and the extensive research we conducted throughout 2023, this report explores how the Middle East’s regional politics and role in international relations are undergoing a significant transformation, driven largely by the deepening connections between China and the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. This burgeoning Sino-Gulf relationship, characterized by expanding economic ties, strategic partnerships, and diplomatic engagements, is not only a significant departure from traditional alliance patterns, but reflects broader shifts in global dynamics.
Local media narratives offer diverse perspectives on Sino-Gulf relations, reflecting a mix of optimism and caution about China's role in the region. The nuanced understanding coming from the involved countries is crucial for scholars and policymakers who wish to grapple with the intricacies of this increasingly important relationship that is shaping regional stability, economic development, and international diplomacy.
Click here to download the report.
This report was jointly produced by the ChinaMed Project and John Cabot University in Rome.