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Treading with Caution: China's Multidimensional Interventions in the Gulf Region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2019

Imad Mansour*
Affiliation:
Department of International Affairs, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract

This article demonstrates the growing adaptability of Chinese foreign policy to Gulf states’ expectations around issues that implicate them directly or are relevant (such as relations with the US, and the wars in Yemen and Syria). Gulf states reacted positively because China's approach incrementally integrated local demands in its strategizing, especially by finding common ground with Gulf states despite their own differences; China has done so while not being tied to a “hegemonic idea” (i.e. it is not trying to control or define Gulf politics). China's incrementalist and non-hegemonic regional approach significantly increased Gulf states’ acceptance of its interventions, adapted to Gulf states’ expectations, and, crucially, has been altering what these states expect of major powers in general. The article concludes by proposing that unfolding Gulf politics in light of the June 2017 GCC crisis is very likely to present China with multiple opportunities to demonstrate the adroitness of its strategic choices vis-à-vis the region.

摘要

本文表明, 中国外交政策的适应性日益增强, 因为它涉及海湾国家与美国直接相关的期望以及也门和叙利亚的战争。海湾国家的反应是积极的, 因为中国的做法逐渐结合了当地的战略要求, 特别是与海湾国家就自己的分歧找到共同点;中国已经这样做了, 而不是被束缚于 “霸权主义” (即它并不试图控制或定义海湾政治)。中国的渐进式和非霸权式的区域方式大大增加了海湾国家接受其干预措施, 适应海湾国家的预期, 并且最重要的是一直在改变这些国家对一般大国的期望。本文最后提出, 鉴 于 2017 年 6 月海湾合作委员会危机, 展开的海湾政治很可能为中国提供多种机会来展示其对该地区战略选择的熟练程度。

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2019 

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