“If we have to think about what’s more important for China, it is its relationship with the United States. I’m not saying that there must necessarily be cooperation, but China has always wanted to be in a position of strength. From that perspective, China has definitely gained a lot. And that’s more important than what capitals in the Arabian Peninsula really think at this point.
So I think it’s all about recognizing that there’s no absolute winner. It’s all about, like, deciding which costs can be absorbed and which ones cannot. Especially with Donald Trump seeking a truce and already in a position of weakness, I think Beijing played quite smartly, with minimal investment.”
Andrea Ghiselli (T.wai & University of Exeter) is interviewed in the podcast “The Iran War Is Reshaping the Persian Gulf. What Does China Do Now?” of the China Global South Project.
Research Fellow
Andrea Ghiselli is a non-resident Research Fellow at T.wai, and serves as the Head of Research of the ChinaMed Project. He is also a Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Exeter.
“Cairo, meanwhile, has an interest in preserving its contracts with the United States. Military cooperation with China can therefore serve several purposes at once.... Read More
