Modern Diplomacy: China's influence grows across Asia, Africa & Europe

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Modern Diplomacy + Al Mayadeen English
13 Mar 2023 16:38

In a new piece on Chinese influence in the Middle East and across the globe, Modern Diplomacy argues that China is "not in competition with the US."

Chinese national emblem outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, March 3, 2023 (AP).

Chinese influence continues to grow across the Middle East, making it "unavoidable" according to a new analysis featured in ModernDiplomacy (MD), an international magazine that characterizes itself as a "leading European opinion-maker."

As part of the argument that China became highly influential across Asia and Africa, the MD piece set the premise that China played a role in Middle East affairs, as shown in the most recent and successful Iran-Saudi agreement, as well as the approach to show interest in mediating the "Palestinian-Israeli conflict" seeking a two-state solution. China also showed interest in brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace proposal, which MD considered proof of a growing role on the global level.

These premises dictate that China had remained neutral vis-a-vis all of the Middle East's conflicts, given that China's approach to international relations had been grounded in economic development and stability. According to MD, "China lacks the motivation to break down the security and political structure of the Middle East led by the United States." These global positions and efforts have "secured Chinese credibility in the region."

It is worth noting that MD wrote that China is "not in competition with the United States." This came at a time when the Middle East's relations with the US had been "filled with friction in recent years."

The Cradle: Sino-Saudi-Iranian deal contains hidden security clauses

In an exclusive piece published on March 12, The Cradle argued, based on information revealed by "sources familiar with the negotiations" that a hidden security clause in the bilateral agreement of the Saudi-Iranian Accord mediated by China, marks strong implications beyond the restoration of diplomatic relations.

This agreement's security goals, according to the report, should have been clear through the delegations present in Beijing last week. After all, the agreement was reached between the National Security Councils of Saudi Arabia and Iran with the involvement of their respective intelligence organizations as well as the presence of representatives of the Iranian Revolution Guard Corp on the Iranian end.

The piece highlighted that the new agreement between KSA and Iran proved China's new role as a "peacemaker". A role that the US sought to maintain, but could never have achieved, under the pretense of "security guarantor".