The Upheaval in West Asia and North Africa: A Constructed New Viewpoint of World Security

Abstract

Abstract: The Arab political transformations originally occurring in early 2011 are posing negative impact over China’s overseas interests in the Middle East region, including those related to its trade with the Arab world, the China-Middle East bilateral investments, its contracted projects, and the safety of its nationals living in the Middle East, whether these influences are direct or indirect, overt or covert. Three aspects are strongly impacted by these negative influences: 1) Libya; 2) Northern and southern Sudan; 3) Energy supply. The dramatic changes of the Arab world have brought alerting signals to China over its national interests in the Middle East, so China shall undertake a meticulous review of its overseas activities and draw the correct lessons from its experiences there so that practical responses can be worked out. In consideration of the loss that Chinese corporations have suffered from the Arab political changeovers, China should establish its own grand strategy for its foreign relations so as to protect its growing overseas interests.