After Gulf Conflict, China Is Likely to Deepen Its Regional Engagement

A damaged building in the vicinity of Dubai Creek Harbour after a drone fell on it, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

A reporter asked me today to look beyond the current turmoil in the Persian Gulf to forecast how China might respond when the fighting eventually stops. The crux of his question is whether Beijing will remain as engaged in the Persian Gulf as it has been for the past decade.

The short answer to that is a definitive YES. 

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 India Forced to Pay Russia in Yuan, Handing China an Unexpected Win
5 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
6 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C

You Might Like

Why the Chinese Embassy in DRC Needs To Take Labor Abuse Videos Seriously

China’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zhu Jing, is probably hoping that the fuss from the recent emergence of multiple social videos ...

China Meets with Iran and Saudi Arabia Amid Israel Crisis

Chinese delegates recently spoke with key allies to discuss the spiraling crisis in the Middle East. Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhberon on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ...

China, UAE Calls Emergency UN Security Council Meeting On Gaza

China co-sponsored the call by the United Arab Emirates for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday to seek a binding resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. During the ...

China Welcomes Arab and Muslim Foreign Ministers for Talks on Ending the War in Gaza

China’s top diplomat met with foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations on Monday, saying Beijing would work with “our brothers and sisters” in the Arab and Islamic world to try to end the ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP
Detected IP: ...