“As I have pointed out in the past, we should not underestimate the constraints that prevent change in Chinese foreign policy. China’s most-recent involvement in Saudi-Iranian relations is indeed the fruit of the combination of a series of independent factors, rather than symptomatic of a more structural and unilateral change in China’s Middle East policy. For example, the fact that Middle Eastern issues are less important than managing the rivalry with the United States in East Asia or the repercussions of Russia’s war in Ukraine, will not change in the foreseeable future.”
Andrea Ghiselli (T.wai & Fudan University) in his article “China and the Middle East: From Performative to Substantive Participation in Regional Affairs?” published by Manara Magazine.
