China’s Growing Influence on the Global Stage Is ‘Mixed Bag’ for Israel, Experts Say

“All signs indicate that China is strategically, not sporadically, deepening its engagement in Persian Gulf economies,” says expert.

By Bradley Martin | | Topics: China, Iran
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (L) prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 14 February 2023.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (L) prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 14 February 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/XINHUA

(JNS) Hours after China brokered a surprise deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a reporter asked US President Joe Biden what he thought about the two countries, which come out of rival Islamic branches that have competed for centuries over guardianship of the faith, re-establishing diplomatic relations.

“The better the relations between Israel and their Arab neighbors, the better for everybody,” he said.

Critics ridiculed the president’s non sequitur, but Biden’s statement raises the question of what impact the deal—and importantly, China’s involvement as a fixer—might have on Jerusalem’s relations with its Arab neighbors following the Abraham Accords.

“China is not working for or against Israel’s interest,” Howard Shatz, a senior economist at Rand Corporation told JNS. “This is a good agreement in China’s interest and a mixed bag for Israel.”

Less tension between Iran and its neighbors may mean neighboring Arab states, like Saudi Arabia, have less incentive to work with Israel. But the United Arab Emirates maintains ties with Iran even after signing the Abraham Accords, and significant disagreements between Saudi Arabia and Iran are unlikely to resolve anytime soon, said Shatz.

“Time will tell,” he stated.

China is in a singular position to broker an agreement like the one between Iran and Saudi Arabia, due to its close ties with both parties, Middle East experts say.

“All signs indicate that China is strategically, not sporadically, deepening its engagement in Persian Gulf economies,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS.

“Few countries can manage the rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh today, and Beijing’s ability to walk that tightrope is driven largely by the fact that it is Saudi Arabia’s and Iran’s most important trade partner, thanks to Beijing’s reliance on hydrocarbons from the region to power its economy,” he explained.

Shatz agreed, saying “the most important part of this development is that China brokered the agreement. The United States could not have served as a broker because it does not have relations with Iran, whereas China does. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran look at China as an integral part of their future.”

Shatz and Taleblu believe the deal signals a decrease in tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. They also noted that it remains to be seen whether China’s ascendancy on the world stage as a peace broker is good for the Jewish state.

 

‘Improve his standing at home’

Meir Javedanfar, a lecturer at Reichman University in Herzliya who teaches diplomatic and security studies of Iran, said China made a calculated move to further its own interests and is likely to use the deal as leverage in its dealings with Moscow and Washington.

China’s President Xi Jinping secured a third term, which is unprecedented since Mao Zedong, Javedanfar told JNS.

“With this deal, Xi Jinping hopes that it will improve his standing at home and portray him as a global player,” said Javedanfar.

He noted that the Chinese president is now visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and wants to project Chinese power and influence not only in the Middle East and Russia—since Russia depends on Chinese buyers for its oil and gas exports—but also in its dealings with America.

You Might Also Like
Load more
Members

Israel Today Membership

Read all member content. Access exclusive, in-depth reports from Israel! Free Zoom events. Connect with Israel right from your home! Raise a voice of truth and hope. Support Faith-based journalism in Jerusalem!

Monthly
Membership

$5
/ month
Full access to Israel Today's Member-only content on all Digital Platforms.
Become a Member

Yearly
Membership

$46
/ year
Full access to Israel Today's Member-only content on all Digital Platforms.
Save 18% Per Month.
Become a Member

Six Months
Membership

$28
every 6 months
Full access to Israel Today's Member-only content on all Digital Platforms.
Save 9% Per Month.
Become a Member
Israel Today comments guidelines Kommentar-Regeln

2 responses to “China’s Growing Influence on the Global Stage Is ‘Mixed Bag’ for Israel, Experts Say”

  1. Mark Watkins says:
    March 22, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    Shalom,

    It is only a mixed bag for a period of time, hence the CCP economy is a ponzi scheme and if there is one thing the Chinese Communist party loves , that is control, control at any cost, Yisrael and for that matter no one should trust Xi Ping, as we look forward, we know from The Holy Writ, Char’siynah will have no influence in the Tribulation, save at the very end when they will try their hand at conquest of the Middle East… Look for the China’s economy to implode, it’s nearly there…

  2. hdfuerst says:
    March 22, 2023 at 7:58 pm

    googletranslate: China’s connection with Russia and Iran does not bode well.
    If Russia invades Israel, China will “hang in” with it.

    Die Verbindung Chinas mit Russland und dem Iran lässt nichts Gutes erahnen.
    Wenn Russland in Israel einfällt, wird China mit “drin hängen”.

Leave a Reply

Israel Today Newsletter

Daily news

FREE to your inbox

Israel Heute Newsletter

Tägliche Nachrichten

KOSTENLOS in Ihrer Inbox

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter