US, West Concerned Over China Inroads into The Arab World

The tenth session of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) highlighted Beijing’s growing prominence and sudden decline of the Western influence in the Arab world. China has stealthy acquired working partnerships with few Arab states where the West has long fallen back.

China might overtake all its adversaries in next 11 years in terms of economic growth and the West is aware Beijing’s political indulgence in the Arab world can be threatening for the rest of the world.

China is a power hungry nation that has got a big push through the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum where leaders of 22 Arab states met Xi Jinping to discuss issues pertaining to economic cooperation, counter terrorism, Climate control, and human rights.

Xi leveraged the forum to its advantage and promoted China-Arab friendship while looking for some meaty deals with cash-rich Arab countries. Xi Jinping while addressing the Arab forum highlighted how the mutual cooperation with the Arab friends is deeply rooted in their joint struggles for national liberation and is a win-win strategy for both parties promoting national development.

Ahmad Aboul Gheit, Secretary General, League of Arab States and Prime Minister, Libya, said, “Before the establishment of this forum the volume of trade did not exceed 36 billion dollars a year. Last year in 2023 it was $400 billion, which was over 10 times as before, so the significance of this forum (CASCF) is very much noticed.”

China also beautifully took advantage of this event to handle the sensitive issue of Palestine conflict and got praised for their approach in the Arab world of arranging unity talks. China has been pledging humanitarian aid to Gaza and urging Israel for a ceasefire depicting itself as a peacemaker in the region.

Ahmad Aboul Gheit was pleased with China’s efforts as he said, “I would like to thank China for supporting the just cause of Palestine and Palestinian people. We can see that Palestinian issue is explained more clearly worldwide with its historical context being revealed including the suffering endured by Palestinian people in last 70 years.”

China’s growing influence has surpassed its border and have reached from Pacific to Africa and now to the Middle East. China’s nefarious intentions are clear from its maritime investments in Sri Lankan and Pakistani ports and another $200 million China-Maldives Friendship Bridge in Maldives. In current scenario, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu is completely in awe of China’s generous attitude and has forgotten its long-standing partner India.

But China’s sudden rise is not greeted with applause all over the world. The US, whose imports of Chinese products had previously fueled Chinese tremendous growth, is now putting tariffs on Chinese products to put brakes on its growth engine over China’s stated aim to bring Taiwan under its control.

So, while the US has stopped the influx of Chinese goods in its market, the Arab world is bracing up for growing trade with China, hinting at how West and the US is fast losing importance in the region.

Now, as China keeps on growing its clout within the Arab nations, will the world see China as a new power alternative to the West or the US. Hasan Alhasan, Senior Fellow of Middle East policy at IISS, while introspecting over the possibilities feels that these dynamics have been in motion from quite some time as China has been a trading partner with the Arab Gulf states as a block and as a region it overshadows big powers like the United States and the EU.

Hasan added, “Also, China is the largest energy export market for most Arab oil exporters, therefore, putting its hand out as the biggest trading partner of the Arab world. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already come out several years ago with promises big investments and funding and has been seen with great appetite by Arab states including capital rich Gulf states and other developing countries in North Africa.”

While highlighting China’s growing network Hasan stated, “China already has multiple development initiatives in Egypt, Iraq and elsewhere.

It also has trading links with UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and is now looking to go beyond traditional partners and build manufacturing hubs in counties like Egypt. China is also looking to trade via central digital currencies with UAE using it as an alternative way of settling the trade transactions.”

David Des Roches, Professor, National Defense University’s regional center dealing with the Near East and Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, feels China is not solely looking for power and said, “United States doesn’t benefit from being an energy trading partner in the Gulf but China has claimed major chunk of energy trade.

But most of the security burden of the Gulf and the military presence that makes that trade go is still American and China doesn’t pay for it. China’s vision is to have a strong influence in East Asia where they are dominant and here it does not want to be strong politically or military wise but wants to achieve its goals economically, which is pretty smart.”

Experts feel that China by partnering with Arab nations wants to dodge US tariffs and their impact. China is big on manufacturing and has a strong hold on the electric vehicles and batteries market and US by putting tariffs on China wants to make sure that fair trade practices are being followed.

China recently resorted to overproduction of goods that led to major challenges faced by other players in the EV sector. China is now looking to boost its business in the Arab nations by supplying cheaper goods and also wants the Arabs to rely less on American-made goods.

Arab nations in turn can get Chinese subsidies while trading which their western counterparts will find hard to get. While this is a win-win situation for both the parties, it is the West and the US that can feel the heat. This will also lead to lessening the impact of tariffs the US and other western nations had on China.

(dailyasianage.com)