From A By-stander to A Constructor: China and the Middle East Security Governance

Abstract: In the 21st century, Middle East conflicts can generally be classified into four types, namely, conflicts between outside powers and Middle East countries, between Middle East countries themselves, between different political parties and religious sects within a sovereign country, as well as transnational and cross-bordering conflicts. The mode of China’s participation in Middle East security governance includes the political, security and social conflicts. There are three categories of domestic mechanisms in Chinese practice, specifically, the special envoy mechanism by Chinese Foreign Ministry, the procession and peace-keeping mechanisms by Chinese Defense Ministry and the foreign aid mechanism by Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the UN and other international organizations constitute the major international regimes for China’s security governance. China’s Middle East security governance creates not only “public goods” for the region, but also a means for China to build constructive great power relations with the US, EU and Russia, among others. The styles of Chinese and Western security governance in the Middle East vary, and the Chinese side places more emphasis on improving the Middle East people’s well-being at the top of the agenda, following “up-bottom” roadmap, and seeking an incremental, consultative, inclusive, and selective governance in the Middle East conflict resolution.