When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Category: Mideast
From Geoeconomics to a Chinese Diplomatic Shift on the Western Sahara? Moroccan Press Coverage of FM Bourita’s Visit to Beijing
Disclaimer: The terminology and analysis presented here do not necessarily reflect the personal views of the author or the official stance of the ChinaMed Project, T.wai. For the sake of consistency and clarity, this piece employs the commonly recognized term “Western Sahara.”
China FM Wang Yi Pledges Support for Syria in ‘Achieving Peace’
China's top diplomat Wang Yi pledged support for Damascus on Monday in "achieving peace at an early date," as his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani made his first official visit to Beijing. Shaibani's trip to China comes amid growing efforts to rebuild ...
Chinese Commentary Says New Saudi-Pakistan Pact Could Lead to an “Islamic NATO”
After Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed their joint defense pact, global attention surged, largely due to Pakistan being the sole nuclear-armed Muslim nation. A detailed commentary published on the popular nationalist news site Guancha analyzes the recent Saudi-Pakistan mutual ...
Saudi Minister Leads High-Level Investment Delegation to China
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, is in Beijing with a high-powered delegation to discuss new trade and investment cooperation. China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, and Chinese foreign direct investment by stock increased 28.8% last year, while investment inflows jumped by 164%. ...
China Says ‘Shocked’ by Israel Strike on Gaza Hospital
China said on Tuesday it was "shocked" by an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital in which five journalists were among at least 20 people killed. "We are shocked and condemn the fact that medical personnel and journalists have once again ...
From Estrangement to Reassessment? Israeli Media and Expert Views on China After the Twelve-Day War
By Amanda Chen Building on our previous analysis of China’s official position and expert debate on the Iran–Israel War, this edition of the ChinaMed Observer examines how the conflict has shaped Israeli analysts’ perceptions of China’s role in the Middle East. Even prior to ...
Chinese AI Firms Turn to the Middle East Amid Domestic Funding Crunch
A recent feature in Economic Observer, a business news outlet, shows how Chinese AI companies, squeezed by fierce competition and a shrinking capital pool at home, are pivoting toward the Middle East, where deep-pocketed sovereign funds and ambitious digital transformation agendas are opening new doors.
China Says Opposes European Sanctions Over Iran Nuclear Program
China said Friday it opposed invoking sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program after three Western nations told the UN they would reimpose them if no diplomatic solution was found by the end of August. European sanctions on Iran were eased ...
China Expresses ‘Serious Concern’ Over Israel Plan to Control Gaza
China expressed on Friday "serious concerns" over Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, urging it to "immediately cease its dangerous actions." "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory," a foreign ministry spokesperson ...
Disorder as Strategy at the Gate of Tears
By Felix Brender 王哲謙 In the latest vignette of maritime theater off Yemen’s coast, a Chinese frigate decided to dazzle a German surveillance plane with a military-grade laser, forcing it to turn tail and return to Djibouti. Berlin is ...
Diminishing U.S. Influence? Chinese Official Positions and Expert Debate on the Israel-Iran Conflict
By Miriam Verzellino and Andrea Ghiselli On June 13, Israel launched a series of air and missile strikes against Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military installations, air defense systems, as well as prominent military leaders, politicians and nuclear scientists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ...
China’s Middle East Math
There was widespread disappointment in Iran that China didn't do more to help Tehran during the recent 12-day war with Israel and the United States. Beijing, for its part, offered robust rhetorical and moral support, but little else. ...