“It can be said that Chinese elites have a rather ambivalent view of the region. There are important economic, energy, and diplomatic factors that make the Middle East important to China. Yet, continued instability there and the fact that Beijing’s ‘core interests’ lie elsewhere reduces the Middle East on the ladder of Chinese external priorities.

Saudi elites consider China an indispensable economic partner and a useful counterweight to Washington, while recognizing that the Chinese are not willing to offer more in a substantive sense. It is clear that these elite still prefer the U.S. as a security partner, but if this cannot be maintained, their alternative preference is to pursue strategic autonomy, all while becoming a regional anchor in a post-American future.”

Andrea Ghiselli and Mohammed Alsudairi (ChinaMed project, T.wai) are interviewed in the article “China-Middle East Cooperation: In the Eye of the Beholder” on The Diplomat.