ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF CHINA’S GROWING PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

This paper examines China’s expanding role in the Middle East over the past two decades, focusing on its economic, diplomatic, and strategic engagements. It analyzes how China’s energy dependence, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments, and deepening trade partnerships are reshaping regional alignments and challenging traditional power structures. The study primarily investigates the implications of China’s growing economic and strategic involvement on regional stability and global geopolitics. Employing a qualitative, document-based approach, the research reviews policy documents, scholarly literature, and official reports to provide a comprehensive structural analysis. Findings reveal that China’s strategic presence is expanding cautiously yet assertively, leveraging economic influence without direct military involvement, in line with its non-interference policy and pursuit of a multilateral global order. However, regional uncertainties, local financial constraints, and limited security engagement pose challenges that may restrict China’s full exercise of power in the region. This study offers a nuanced understanding of China’s evolving role in the Middle East and provides insights for scholars and policymakers assessing its regional and global implications.