LIU Zhongmin: The Middle East Upheaval and the Readjustment of Great Powers' Middle East Strategies
مرة: 2012-04-10 وجهات النظر: 56

 

Title:

The Middle East Upheaval and the Readjustment of Great Powers’ Middle East Strategies: Also on China’s Middle East Diplomacy

Source:

Journal of West Asia and Africa, No.2, April 2012

Author:

LIU Zhongmin

Abstract:

On the basis of analyzing the Middle East upheaval, this paper probes the attributes of US, EU and Russian strategic readjustment of their respective policies to the Middle East, and puts forward some analysis and revelation on issues related with China’s Middle East diplomacy. It finds out that the US readjustment aims at maintaining its predominance over the Middle East affairs, and meanwhile avoiding an overdue involvement in the region like that of the Iraq War. The active intervention by the European Union, particularly by the UK and France, has obviously strengthened the European influence in the region. Despite its ambition to form a common Middle East strategy, EU is undoubtedly confronted with a series of internal barriers. Russian Middle East strategy is by nature characterized by a pragmatic diplomacy with a perfect combination of sticking to principle and maintaining flexibility, which aims to safeguard its geostrategic and energy interests in the Middle East. By summarizing China’s experience and existing problems, this paper highlights that China should place more emphasis on the importance of the Middle East strategic status, cool-headedly evaluate the impact of the Middle East upheaval on China’s international setting, and participate more broadly in this region’s affairs on the basis of adhering to the principles.

Key Words:

International Relations; The Middle East Strategy; Middle East Upheaval; United States; Europe; Russia; China

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