China and the Arab Region: Dynamics of Engagement

China’s presence in the western parts of Asia and the Mediterranean has grown considerably since the early 2000s and as its presence and interests have grown so too has its engagement with the key actors in the Arab region—the group of countries which dominate the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) area. China features strongly in the three critical realms of economic relations, diplomatic-security conditions, and political exchanges of the Arab region. The clear shape of China’s footprint arguably appeared following the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in 2004, which has deepened with the reach of the Belt and Road Initiative to the Arab region. These developments have prompted Beijing to issue its first Arab Policy Paper in 2016, which is clearly designed to shape relations between the People’s Republic and the diverse group of Arab states. This chapter will analyse the presence and role of China in the Arab region, with a particular focus on China’s relations with the Gulf Arab monarchies and the republics of Egypt, Libya, and Syria. These case studies will be used to shed light on exchanges between the two sides with regard to economic relations, diplomatic-security interactions, as well as the impact of China’s policies/role on politics in this region.