https://arab.news/5yf3p
Over the past two years of Israeli genocide in Gaza, China has played a minimal role. The superpower controlling events has been the US. One might wonder why Beijing has played an almost nonexistent role. However, this might not necessarily be the case going forward, as it is in China’s interest to get involved.
For China, the areas that are of prime importance to its national security are the South China Sea and the US as a competing superpower. Hence, the Middle East is not of prime importance. Another issue is China’s capabilities. Despite strong trade relations, it is very weak in terms of both soft power and hard power when it comes to the Middle East. In terms of hard power, unlike the US, which has bases scattered over the region, China has nothing except for a small base in the Horn of Africa. Even this base is next to American and Japanese bases.
In terms of soft power, Chinese outreach cannot be compared to America’s. The US has been engaged in the region for a very long time, building schools, universities, hospitals, etc. It has engagement with civil society through nonprofit organizations. American pop culture has access to the Arab youth. Content from Hollywood is on major screens in the region. Chinese culture, meanwhile, remains alien to the region.
