By Zayna Tubeishat
Introduction
The Middle East has long served as the political playground of economic superpowers and though this has wreaked havoc on the lives of people in the region, an irresponsible turn from intervention could lead to further destabilization. The United States’ sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan has raised concerns among theorists over the gap that a trend like this could leave in the region, and more importantly, who the gap would be filled by. With the withdrawal of U.S troops from the region, China has been filling in gaps of redevelopment in the countries that have experienced the worst of U.S. intervention.
Through its strategic Belt and Road initiative, China has been quietly expanding its influence in the Middle East through technology, health-related diplomacy, and other economic endeavors. One of relevance is its establishment of a number of vaccine production companies throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Similarly, the Chinese mobile telecommunications company Huawei has also penetrated the region and invested in the local IT and virtual-education sector. Nonetheless, patterns of Chinese foreign investment in other regions point to implications of espionage and environmental exploitation.In order to ensure that Chinese investment in the Middle East is mutually-beneficial and non exploitative, the U.S. must work with China and the international community to regulate foreign investment. Otherwise, this Sino-Middle East alliance poses a threat to U.S. economic and political interests in the region.
Analysis
China has strategically capitalized on anti-Western sentiment resulting from a history of U.S interventionism as an opportunity to redevelop the region and foster stronger economic ties. (Rozsa, 1) Its approach is tenaciously diplomatic, investing billions into the Arabian Gulf countries and Israel without stirring up controversy by keeping relations strictly economic. Furthermore, there is no discrimination in terms of developed and undeveloped countries, with China pledging billions of dollars to war-torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. (Burton, et. al)
Nevertheless, this investment is not unique to the Middle East, China has been heavily investing in the African continent as well. Although some may view their aid as goodwill, reports show otherwise; an investigation conducted by French newspaper Le Monde found that the Chinese-funded African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa had bugged computers. (Statt, 2018). Although the Chinese government has deemed these accusations as absurd instigation, former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced similar concerns of espionage-related intentions of Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei, which is one of the main telecommunications companies operating in the MENA.
In the case of Southeast Asia, Chinese investment has proven to be detrimental to fishing communities, natural landscapes, and the environment at-large. Chinese hydropower companies have built huge dams, like the Xiaowan Dam, that have wreaked havoc on the surrounding environmental and agricultural systems. Moreover, these investments have bolstered the threat of climate change by contributing to CO2 emissions and pollution, the effects of which have increased a myriad of regional environmental disasters, such as typhoons and tsunamis. It is evident that the culprit is Chinese corporations’ disregard for host nations’ wellbeing.
Despite the economic nature of these examples, it would not be impractical to anticipate future political intervention by China in the region. (Rozsa) Such a development would put MENA-based U.S organizations and interests at risk, since a continuance of military withdrawal from the Middle East does not mean that other forms of interaction, such as USAID development programs, will end. With Chinese corporations at the forefront of economic development in the region, potential for political conflict and trade wars between the U.S. and China is further complicated.
Recommendations
REGULATING FOREIGN INVESTMENT
In order to minimize further instability in the Middle East and ensure interests in the region, the United States must work with the international community to limit damaging forms of foreign investment. These range from humanitarian aid and vaccine production companies; such endeavors must transform from conduits of neocolonialism to less-conditional aid, with nationals being put in decision-making positions. The U.S. can achieve this by supporting a less-antagonistic Russian approach to foreign investment, which considers such entities as “foreign agents.”
Likewise, the Trump administration was vocal about its concern regarding Chinese investment in Israel, the pressure of which led to the Middle Eastern country to establish a board monitoring Chinese investment. (Gee, 2020). The U.S. must continue and expand this strategy by encouraging similar endeavors in other Middle Eastern countries to prevent potential Chinese monopolies occurring across sectors within the region. This can be achieved through the creation of USAID-backed organizations specializing in monitoring the developments of Chinese firms and initiatives in the region.
MENDING RELATIONS WITH CHINA
In addition to regulating foreign investment, the U.S. must cooperate with and foster friendlier diplomatic relations with China. Antagonistic portrayals of China have been on the rise within U.S. media, where the overwhelming sentiment is that China poses a threat to economic prosperity in America. To combat this rhetoric and develop a stronger diplomatic relationship, the U.S. government must hold major media companies accountable for unconducive anti-China bias. When both economic superpowers are in sync, it allows for greater transparency in dealings with a strategic region like the Middle East.
Conclusion
China’s pattern of investment in the Middle East presents an opportunity for the United States to fix its image in the Middle East and around the world. By working together with China and the international community to impose stricter regulations on foreign investment, the U.S can prevent a China-led exacerbation of regional tensions and turn its reputation of being an agent of neocolonialism to one of true democratic principles. All of this is crucial as it pertains to maintaining a beneficial economic relationship between key trade partners and circumventing Chinese monopoly in the Middle East.
Bibliography
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