While the US Fights Iran, Is China Quietly Taking Over the Middle East?

Описание: As the United States remains locked in a prolonged conflict with Iran, a very different power is emerging as the unexpected beneficiary — China.

According to former CIA analyst John Nixon, speaking to Al Jazeera, Beijing is carefully "playing the long game" in the Middle East. Nixon explains that China has already gained valuable intelligence on US war-fighting capabilities and modern military strategies simply by observing the ongoing conflict.

But the strategic advantage goes far beyond the battlefield. While Washington's military presence fuels tension across the region, China is positioning itself as a responsible, non-interventionist partner to Gulf nations — countries that hold enormous importance for China's economic future.

"The Gulf countries are so important to China's future, and they come across as a very responsible power," Nixon said.

Unlike the United States, China has shown no interest in projecting military force into the Middle East. Instead, Beijing has focused on building transactional but cooperative relationships with energy-rich Gulf states. Nixon acknowledges that China's purely business-driven approach can be seen as a weakness — but warns that over time, if the US continues what he calls a "ham-handed" approach to the region, the Chinese model will become increasingly attractive.

China's motivation is also deeply economic. The country remains heavily dependent on Gulf energy exports, and Nixon stresses that even as the global economy gradually transitions away from fossil fuels, China will remain a major energy customer for years to come — making a stronger, long-term partnership with Gulf nations both logical and inevitable.

"The relationship will get stronger," Nixon said simply.

The broader implication is clear: every day the US-Iran war continues without resolution, China consolidates its soft power, expands its regional influence, and moves closer to becoming the Middle East's most trusted strategic partner.

Source: Al Jazeera