Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

China in the Middle East: an Analysis from a Theoretical Perspective of “Path Dependence”

  • Published:
East Asia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate about whether China’s growing economic presence in the Middle East will eventually make it more politically assertive on the Middle Eastern affairs. This paper demonstrates, from a theoretical perspective of “path dependence,” that China’s promotion of the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” since the 1950s as the guiding doctrine of its foreign relations has forged a “path” for China to follow, along which it has made and repeated promises against interventionism and imperialism to other countries including the Middle Eastern ones. It, in turn, has created a situation where moving away from that “path against interventionism and imperialism” will cause huge damage to China’s reputation as a reliable non-interventionist partner to the Middle Eastern countries, and the “Global South” in general. As a result, China has refrained, and will arguably continue to refrain, from being too politically assertive on the Middle Eastern affairs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adie, W. A. C. (1967). China’s Middle East Strategy. The World Today, 23(8), 317-326.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Asian Society. (1997). Speech by President Jiang Zemin of the People’s Republic of China. 30 October 1997. https://asiasociety.org/speech-president-jiang-zemin-peoples-republic-china. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  3. BBC News. (2018). Xi Jinping says China will not seek to dominate. 18 December 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-46601175. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  4. Becker, J., & Downs, E. (2018). China’s Djibouti military base the first of many. East Asia Forum, 27 June 2018. http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/06/27/chinas-djibouti-military-base-the-first-of-many. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  5. Beijing Review. (2009). Hu: China Would Never Seek Hegemony. 21 April 2009. http://www.bjreview.com/quotes/txt/2009-04/23/content_192517.htm. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  6. BRICS Policy Center. (2017). The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. http://www.bricspolicycenter.org/download/6153. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  7. Calabrese, J. (1998). China and the Persian Gulf: Energy and Security. Middle East Journal, 52(3), 351-366.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chen, Y. (2012). China’s Relationship with Israel, Opportunities and Challenges, Perspectives from China. Israel Studies, 17(3), 1-21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (2004). Declaration on the China-Arab States Forum. 14 September 2004. http://www.chinaarabcf.org/chn/lthyjwx/bzjhywj/dijbzjhy/t866303.htm. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  10. China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (2010). Tianjin Declaration on China-Arab Strategic Cooperative Relationship. 14 May 2010. http://www.chinaarabcf.org/chn/lthyjwx/bzjhywj/dsijbzjhy/t694632.htm. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  11. Conduit, D., & Akbarzadeh, S. (2019). Great Power-Middle Power Dynamics: The Case of China and Iran. Journal of Contemporary China, 28(117), 468-481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Crescenzi, M. J. C., & Donahue, B. (2017). Reputation in International Relations. Oxford Bibliographies in International Relations, 27 April 2017. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0208.xml. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  13. Crescenzi, M. J. C., Kathman, J. D., Kleinberg, K. B., & Wood, R. M. (2012). Reliability, Reputation, and Alliance Formation. International Studies Quarterly, 56(2), 259-274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ehteshami, A., Horesh, N., & Xu, R. (2018). Chinese-Iranian Mutual Strategic Perceptions. The China Journal, 79, 1-20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Turkey. (2010). China, Turkey to establish strategic cooperative relationship. 8 October 2010. http://tr.china-embassy.org/eng/ztgx/t759787.htm. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  16. Evron, Y. (2019). The Challenge of Implementing the Belt and Road Initiative in the Middle East: Connectivity Projects under Conditions of Limited Political Engagement. The China Quarterly, 237, 196-216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Fulton, J. (2018). China’s power in the Middle East is rising. Washington Post, 9 August 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/08/09/chinas-rise-in-the-middle-east/?utm_term=.e8a60d6d626d. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  18. Fulton, J. (2019). China’s Changing Role in the Middle East. Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Chinas_Changing_Role_in_the_Middle_East.pdf. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  19. Fulton, J. (2020). Domestic Politics as Fuel for China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative: The Case of the Gulf Monarchies. Journal of Contemporary China, 29(122), 175-190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Girard, B. (2018). China’s BRI Bet in the Middle East. The Diplomat, 18 July 2018. https://thediplomat.com/2018/07/chinas-bri-bet-in-the-middle-east. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  21. Greener, I. (2005). The Potential of Path Dependence in Political Studies. Politics, 25(1), 62-72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ibrahim, A. (2019). Muslim Leaders Are Betraying the Uighurs. Foreign Policy, 8 July 2019. https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/08/muslim-leaders-are-betraying-the-uighurs. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  23. Khalili, J. E. (1970). Communist China and the United Arab Republic. Asian Survey, 10(4), 308-319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lai, H. H. (2007). China’s Oil Diplomacy: Is It a Global Security Threat? Third World Quarterly, 28(3), 519-537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Leithner, A. C., & Libby, K. M. (2017). Path Dependency in Foreign Policy. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, 27 July 2017, 1-28. https://oxfordre.com/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228637-e-376. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  26. Lin, C. (2017). The Belt and Road and China’s Long-term Visions in the Middle East. ISPSW Strategy Series, 512, 1-10. https://www.ispsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/512_Lin.pdf. Accessed 3 November 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Marx, J. (2010). Path Dependency and Change in International Relations: Institutional Dynamics in the Field of Intellectual Property Rights. Historical Social Research, 35(3), 175-199.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ministry of Commerce, China. (2019). MOFCOM Holds Press Conference on the 4th China-Arab States Expo. 13 July 2019. http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/press/201907/20190702885086.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  29. Ministry of External Affairs, India. (1954). Agreement on Trade and Intercourse with Tibet Region. 29 April 1954. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/7807/Agreement+on+Trade+and+Intercourse+with+Tibet+Region. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  30. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. (2000a). China advocating the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. 7 November 2000. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/ziliao_674904/wjs_674919/2159_674923/t8987.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  31. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. (2000b). Building a new international order on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. 7 November 2000. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/ziliao_674904/wjs_674919/2159_674923/t8981.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  32. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. (2004). Joint Communique concerning the Establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. 30 January 2004. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/ziliao_674904/1179_674909/t61171.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  33. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. (2014). Wang Yi: China’s Political Role in the Middle East Will only Be Enhanced. 9 January 2014. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/wjbz_663308/2461_663310/t1116498.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  34. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. (2016). China’s Arab Policy Paper. 13 January 2016. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1331683.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  35. Mohan, G., & Power, M. (2008). New African Choices? The Politics of Chinese Engagement. Review of African Political Economy, 35(115), 23-42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Office of the Historian, Department of State, US. (n.d.). Bandung Conference (Asian-African Conference), 1955. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/bandung-conf. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  37. Official Website of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (2020). http://www.chinaarabcf.org/chn. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  38. Official Website of the Belt and Road Initiative. (2020). http://english.gov.cn/beltAndRoad. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  39. Reyes, R. L. (2004). Path Dependence and Foreign Policy: A Case Study of United States Policy toward Lebanon. Master’s thesis, Naval Graduate School. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a427709.pdf. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  40. Shichor, Y. (1981). “Just Stand” and “Just Struggle”: China and the Peace Process in the Middle East. The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, 5, 39-52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Shichor, Y. (1991). China and the Role of the United Nations in the Middle East: Revised Policy. Asian Survey, 31(3), 255-269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Shichor, Y. (1992). China and the Middle East Since Tiananmen. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 519, 86-100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Shichor, Y. (2013). Fundamentally Unacceptable yet Occasionally Unavoidable: China’s Options on External Interference in the Middle East. China Report, 49(1), 25-41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Shichor, Y. (2017). Maximising Output while Minimising Input: Change and Continuity in China’s Middle East Policy. In H. T. Boon (Ed.), Chinese Foreign Policy Under Xi (pp. 109-129). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  45. South China Morning Post. (2016). Quick guide to China’s diplomatic levels. 20 January 2016. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1903455/quick-guide-chinas-diplomatic-levels. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  46. State Council, China. (2019). China and the World in the New Era. 27 September 2019. http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/201909/27/content_WS5d8d80f9c6d0bcf8c4c142ef.html. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  47. Sun, D., & Zoubir, Y. H. (2015). China’s Economic Diplomacy towards the Arab Countries: challenges ahead? Journal of Contemporary China, 24(95), 903-921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Sun, D., & Zoubir, Y. H. (2018). China’s Participation in Conflict Resolution in the Middle East and North Africa: A Case of Quasi-Mediation Diplomacy? Journal of Contemporary China, 27(110), 224-243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Wehrey, F., Kaye, D. D., Watkins, J., Martini, J., & Guffey, R. A. (2010). The Iraq Effect: The Middle East After the Iraq War. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Weisiger, A., & Yarhi-Milo, K. (2015). Revisiting Reputation: How Past Actions Matter in International Politics. International Organization, 69(2), 473-495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Westcott, B., & Xiong, Y. (2018). China legalizes Xinjiang “re-education camps” after denying they exist. CNN, 11 October 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/10/asia/xinjiang-china-reeducation-camps-intl/index.html. Accessed 3 November 2020.

  52. Wu, G. (n.d.). Backstage stories about Deng’s attending the UN special meeting. News of the Communist Party of China. http://cpc.people.com.cn/BIG5/85037/8534293.html. Accessed 3 November 2020. (in Chinese)

  53. Yetiv, S. A., & Lu, C. (2007). China, Global Energy, and the Middle East. Middle East Journal, 61(2), 199-218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Studies, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, USA

    Chien-Kai Chen

Authors
  1. Chien-Kai Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chien-Kai Chen.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, CK. China in the Middle East: an Analysis from a Theoretical Perspective of “Path Dependence”. East Asia 38, 105–121 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-020-09352-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-020-09352-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation