China is the title of "active diplomacy" for a stable and prosperous Middle East

Written by: Alaa El Deek

Our world is living in difficult political, civil, economic and social conditions, and tangible challenges that threaten global peace and security are afflicting us, all as a result of the formation of a unipolar system after the end of the Cold War, which seeks to strengthen military, economic, cultural and media influence with the aim of controlling the entire international system. Since the formation of this unilateral regime that praises freedoms and the defense of human rights with the aim of benefiting from them as resounding slogans to pass its colonial project, it has committed many massacres and wars against humanity and entire peoples, killing and displacing millions of people in various parts of the earth within simple years, in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia, and others, in order to create a turbulent and unstable world, and thus impose its imperial hegemony effortlessly.

On the other hand, the emergence of the People's Republic of China came in conjunction with the aspirations of peoples to get rid of colonialism and occupation of any kind and source. China does not have a colonial or imperial culture. Chinese politics is linked to ethics, and China is biased towards the oppressed, the oppressed and the oppressed, and China seeks to create a pluralistic world order that is more moral and just. And humanity, away from the unilateral system that was formed after the Cold War. The current Chinese policy is based on respecting the other and respecting his culture, not a military and imperial culture to control others, and this is what makes people reassured and continues to strengthen their relations with China.

And based on the development of Chinese foreign policy towards others, especially in the Middle East and North Africa region, where this policy was characterized by reform and openness, cooperation, understanding and coordination of efforts, achieving security, peace and sustainable development, and reaching a new pluralistic world based on mutual respect and respect for the sovereignty and rights of states and non-interference in the affairs of Others, regardless of the strength, size and wealth of each, with the aim of achieving mutual benefit and a common destiny for all without exception. Accordingly, China put forward many initiatives, ideas and proposals, with the aim of strengthening and crystallizing Chinese foreign policy towards others, so that Chinese politics and diplomacy have become “initiatives” to achieve global security and development.
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the "Belt and Road" initiative with the aim of strengthening and strengthening ties between China and the three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa, through the maritime belt and the overland Silk Road two thousand years ago, extending from the Sultanate of Oman to the Arabian Peninsula, Petra and Jerusalem, etc. This is followed by reaching Europe, and then passing through Egypt to reach the African continent, through a network of roads, ports, airports, infrastructure projects, and investment projects in all fields, especially in the fields of energy and technology. The aim of this initiative and the Chinese economic and investment perspective is to achieve stability, understanding and cooperation between all parties in order to achieve security and sustainable development for the benefit of all.
China wants to achieve understanding and cooperation between all parties in the Middle East in order to achieve stability and prosperity. It believes that contradictions and conflicts do not serve anyone. China wants a stable and prosperous Middle East that serves everyone, not just the Chinese. Everyone, China offers initiatives and solutions to achieve this goal. Contrary to American foreign policy, for example, which wants a torn, weak and flabby Middle East, in order to serve its interest and the interest of its allies, foremost of which is Israel, with the aim of tightening hegemony and control in the region politically, economically and militarily, without consideration and concern for the interests and rights of others, and the best evidence for this is the indifference to wars and conflicts in The region, supporting the allies by sending equipment and armies to impose a fait accompli policy, as well as ignoring the Palestinian political rights and the rights of the Arab peoples that are guaranteed by humanitarian and international norms and conventions, and who are still suffering from the oppression and injustice of the policy of occupation and colonialism supported by America and its allies.
In 2017, China proposed the "Four Points" initiative with the aim of resolving the Palestinian issue according to a political solution based on international legitimacy decisions, as this Chinese initiative and vision seeks to achieve political support for resolving the Palestinian issue by promoting and embodying the political goals of the Palestinian people, by establishing an independent and independent Palestinian state. Sovereignty and self-determination of the Palestinian people in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions. China is realistic and against the Israeli occupation and with the national rights of the Palestinians, and with the determination of the fate of the Palestinian people. Its policy is firm and moral with those rights, because it suffered from occupation and is well aware of what it means for a people to lose their land and homeland, so China will remain with truth and justice and against occupation and colonialism in reality and truth and not Only in theory. China also believes that the Palestinian issue is the key to security, peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East region. Therefore, this comprehensive vision is a serious, constant and continuous effort on the part of China to solve the Palestinian issue, especially in light of the complex circumstances that plague it as a result of the continuation of the unilateral policy of the Israeli occupation towards imposing The policy of the fait accompli on the ground, the refusal to achieve and embody the political and sovereign rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the result of the US administration's disregard for a radical solution to the Palestinian issue and continued support for Israel by all means. Accordingly, China is striving steadfastly and effectively to find a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue with allies, friends and supporters of Palestinian rights, despite the US and Israeli position refusing to resolve this issue.

In 2021, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Egypt, put forward a number of ideas and proposals in order to support and make the political solution to the Palestinian issue a success, the most important of which are: strengthening the influence of the Palestinian National Authority, and achieving and strengthening Palestinian national unity. Chinese-Palestinian relations have been solid and strong for decades, and diplomatic relations, economic cooperation relations, and trade exchange between the two countries have developed significantly and effectively, and there is a development in cultural and media relations and the exchange of ideas and information as well. Therefore, Chinese support is constant and effective with all available means and capabilities towards the Palestinian institution and the Palestinian people. There is no doubt that the Israeli occupation hinders the success of the Chinese development, economic and commercial role towards the Palestinians in the required manner, because there is no actual Palestinian sovereignty over the borders, regions, and so on.

On the Palestinian side, the internal Palestinian division still casts a shadow over the Palestinian arena, which may affect the positions of friendly countries that support the solution of the Palestinian national issue in regional and international forums and events, especially since regional conflicts, alliances and polarizations have become negatively affecting the achievement of Palestinian national unity, in light of The absence of a real Palestinian national will to achieve this.

In April 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the "global security" initiative with the aim of facing challenges that would destabilize security and stability in the whole world, and strive to maintain global security in order to reach mutual benefit and a common destiny for all, and its most important clauses: China calls for the need to adhere to common security Comprehensive and sustainable, by respecting and protecting the security and safety of every country, by promoting cooperation, understanding and joint dialogue, as well as respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all, given that all countries are equal members of the international system, there is no rich or poor, weak or strong, and also everyone must Respect for the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, as the policy of unilateralism contradicts those principles, so it must be rejected and not dealt with, and everyone must preserve the legitimate security interests of all countries, as there is no guarantee of the security of one country at the expense of the security of another, and also dialogue and a peaceful solution must be adhered to between All parties, in the event of a dispute or dispute or the like, wars and sanctions are not an ideal way to resolve disputes, and finally China is committed with all parties in the international system to work seriously to resolve all issues and disputes regional and international, with the aim of preserving a secure, stable and prosperous world.

Accordingly, China has sought with determination and real will to maintain "active diplomacy" towards regional disputes and international issues that still cast a shadow over destabilizing the security and stability of the world as a whole, and the Middle East region in particular.

For example, China recently sponsored a Saudi-Iranian dialogue in Beijing, between 6-10 March, in response to an initiative by President Xi Jinping, inviting the Saudi and Iranian sides to resume dialogue and bilateral relations and build bridges of trust and understanding, for the benefit of the two countries. The two countries and all parties in the region and the Middle East, in a way that serves a solution to all outstanding issues in the region. Accordingly, Riyadh and Tehran agreed to resume official diplomatic relations between them by reopening embassies and representations within two months of the date of signing the agreement, and activating committees in order to consolidate and follow up what was agreed upon, noting that Saudi-Iranian relations have been severed since 2016, which has affected the entire region. At that time, there was a state of contradiction, rivalry, and conflict between different currents, peoples, and states.
In conclusion, we can say that China possesses consistent and effective diplomacy for the sake of a stable and prosperous Middle East. The alliances between China and those countries are based on the political, economic, cultural and media benefits of the people, and are not colonial or imperial alliances with the aim of controlling or conspiring against anyone to achieve unilateral interests at the expense of others. Therefore, the people stand with these collective initiatives and reassure them, because the purpose behind their emergence is to fight the unilateral colonial-imperialist ideology in favor of the oppressed and weak peoples, such as the Palestinian people who are still suffering from occupation, oppression and injustice.

What is required from the Arab world is that the Arab countries accelerate their efforts to support the Chinese position and role in the rapprochement that took place between Iran and Saudi Arabia under Chinese auspices and initiative, with the aim of creating an atmosphere of stability and calm in the Middle East region, especially at that sensitive stage in which the region suffers from many conflicts, contradictions and differences. And also that the Arab countries open a page of dialogue, understanding and joint collective action between all the warring and conflicting Arab parties and poles, in order to create the atmosphere for a joint Arab-Chinese action entitled achieving "security, stability and prosperity". Accordingly, the Arabs must embrace the Palestinian issue again as a central and fundamental issue in the region, and strive seriously with China and its allies to resolve it in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions, and demand the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative, and call on all Arabs not to weave formal or informal relations or contacts with the Israeli occupation state. At the expense of the Palestinian right.

As for the Palestinians, what is required is the completion of the internal Palestinian national reconciliation with the aim of strengthening the firm and effective Chinese position towards resolving the Palestinian issue, as well as completely avoiding betting on the American position, which does not differentiate anything in the colonial and imperialist thought from the occupying thought of Israel. Also, for Palestine to seek immediately to build a strategic alliance with China in all fields and at all levels, its title: joint action and a common destiny.

* Researcher on Chinese affairs and international relations / Institute of Middle East Studies, Shanghai University for International Studies.