The Rise of the Chinese Role in the Middle East and its Reflection on Regional Security

Abstract

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the People’s Republic of China’s interest in the external role based on economic tools has increased in order to reach the maximum benefit for the Chinese national interests. This role has been accompanied by the intensification of competition between the major countries in different regions. The Middle East region’s share was the largest in this competition. China has close interests in the Middle East based on energy and markets, and these interests have increased to enter the political and security fields with the changes taking place in the region, until it has reached advanced stages in competing with the influence of the traditional major powers in the region (the United States of America and Europe). In the last decade, the extent of Chinese involvement in the region's issues has increased, which has begun to pose an economic and strategic threat to the influence of the traditional major powers, and as this threat represents a direct reflection on the security situation in a soft region such as the Middle East, the interest in examining the future effects of this Chinese rise has increased. In the aspects of security, economics and politics.