Research on China’s New Middle East Diplomacy Strategy Construction under the Framework of International Law

Xiaoyan+Xue++Guangmin+Li

【Abstract】This paper highlighted the necessity and feasibility of Chinas new Middle East strategy construction under the framework of international law based on current situation in the Middle East. The time background of “One Belt and One Road” and the research status were analysed in this paper. The opportunities and challenges brought by Chinas new Middle East diplomacy strategy were illustrated， then Chinas Middle East diplomacy strategy under the framework of international law was analysed and some suggestions were put forward on Chinas new Middle East diplomacy strategy construction.

【Key words】One Belt and One Road； Chinas new Middle East strategy； Opportunities and challenges； Diplomacy strategy.

The strategic initiative of constructing “Silk Road Economic Belt” was proposed firstly by Xi Jinping when he visited Kazakhstan on September 7， 2013. In December， He explicitly put forward that China is willing to develop Marine partnerships with ASEAN countries and mutually construct “Maritime Silk Road in twenty-first Century” when he delivered an important speech in Indonesia congress. The two initiatives referred to as “One Belt and One Road”. The construction of “One Belt and One Road” has become a cross-regional cooperation mode in 21st century， which contacting the policy， trade， infrastructure， capital， communication of Asia with those of Africa and Europe. At present， the Middle East geopolitical competition is unusually intense， the “Old Middle East” tends to collapse and the “New Middle East” is still on the construction. In this process， the relation between great power and the Middle East are also changing. Americas influence for the Middle East is declining and the competition of great power in this area is increasing. However， various powers affect the reshaping of the Middle East order in different ways. On the other hand， the Middle East is in the critical stage of transition. Many countries occur turbulence frequently during the transitional period and some countries are still in reconstruction. Sharp changes lead to the accumulation and superposition of various risks.

1. The opportunities and challenges of Chinas New Middle East diplomacy policy

Under wide background of the times， we will find that there are closely relationship between this change of the Middle East and the change of the current global politics and international situation. Similarly， the development of global politics and the change of international situation also make the relationships of international environment for our country have taken place profound changes. In this case， China's diplomacy has entered a new adjustment transition period to adapt to the development of new situation and the development of national interests. Therefore， I think that China's Middle East diplomacy is also to be in harmony with the transformation of China's overall diplomacy. China should adjust the relevant policies to master the initiative of the Middle East diplomacy according to the changed situation of the Middle East and all countries transformation tendency. Quite a long period in the future， the Middle East will still be in the old and new order alternating stage. The Middle East is in a disordered state， which has caused great impact to Chinas Middle East diplomacy and the maintenance of interests. In view of the increasingly prominent and maintain of the Middle East as the status of Chinas “Big Surrounding” and the need of Chinas growing interests in the Middle East. China must have a bear to make some difference in the Middle East， and actively participate in shaping the new order of the Middle East.

2. Chinas Middle East diplomacy strategy under the framework of international law

In June 2014， an extremist armed group who calls himself “Islamic State of Iraq and al Shams” occupied the northern Iraqi city—Mosul， and quickly set off down the offensive， which led the shock and concern of international community. The Iraq war launched by the United States in 2003 is the direct cause this chaos bureau， which has seriously damaged the the geopolitical balance between Arabia country and Iran， Turkey and Israel. This war also broke the domestic political balance of Iraq. The strategic change of decreasing global counter-terrorism efforts after Obama came to power also contributed to the development of terrorist forces in a certain extent. Obamas “shilly-shally” policy is affected by a series of subjective and objective factors. The proposed joint strike ISIS is not a deliberate move and more is an emergency response. From the subjective point of view， Barack Obama promised the United States from the Middle East to withdraw， if now sent troops to fight back three years， that means to deliver another the unfinished war on terror to the next hand， which is non-natural as he wished. However， the objective reality conditions of the United States do also not allow him to launch a large-scale war， so Obama is very difficult to make a decisive decision to send troops. Because of this， Obama needs a multinational coalition against terrorism， especially the area around national ground troops to assist him.

The rise of ISIS and the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East have caused a great threat to the security interests， economic interests and regional strategic interests of China. China will participate actively in the international anti-terrorism cooperation under the framework of international law， and adhere to promote peace talks to play a constructive role. The countries of the Middle East and China complementary in the development， the two sides are closely relational in the interests of energy market， security and other fields. We sincerely hope that Arabia can go on the road of normal development. China will also play a due role and always promote the international anti-terrorism cooperation. Therefore， China will take a positive attitude to participate in international counter-terrorism cooperation nuder the framework of international law.

3. Suggestions for Chinas new Middle East diplomacy strategy

Firstly， promoting “One Belt and One Road” must be corresponding to the specific situation of countries along the line， especially choosing the right way to promote the construction of “One Belt and One Road” according to the characteristics of the Middle East countries in this area and the real situation of different countries. Therefore， the construction of “One Belt and One Road” needs more specific and detailed plan for China and the Middle East countries.

Secondly， in view of the reality of hot issue outstanding， frequent emergencies， economic development and various security environment of the Middle East， “One Belt and One Road” construction should not only take the advance of the means of “common building” but also establish the perfect crisis control. Besides， the security and risk assessment mechanism to deal with all kinds of complex problems should be established， which will reduce or avoid unnecessary loss.

Thirdly， we should strengthen the professional research and cooperation of the think-tank and establish broader exchanges platform and channel to make hearts and minds interlinked to achieve actual effect in the construction of “One Belt and One Road”. We can not only carry out the research around the major issues of achieving strategic docking and thinking tank cooperation but also deepen the cognition， strengthen the goodwill degrees and even affect the consensus decision.

Fourthly， we should commit promoting the construction of common security and building the security community between China and the Middle East countries from a higher level. As a rising country， China need to be committed to the construction of the Middle East peace mechanism with big countries and regional countries for the stability and development of the Middle East， which can create opportunities and change the historical destiny of the long-term turmoil in the Middle East.

4. Conclusion

In a word， the initiative of “One Belt and One Road” shows the idea and scheme of China to deal with the relationships with the world idea in the new period， and it is full of “Oriental wisdom”. At the same time， it is a century engineering of long-term， complicated and involving many countries both at home and abroad. With the ISIS developing in the Middle East area， the original political landscape is changing and new order of the Middle East state is still unknown. Therefore， China will take a positive attitude to participate in international counter-terrorism cooperation nuder the framework of international law.

References：

[1]Lei Wu.The construction of new “Silk Road”：new connotation of the relationships of China with the Middle East[J].West Asia，Africa，2014，03：4-16.

[2]Zhichao Tang.New order construction in the Middle East and the role of China[J].Asia Africa，2014，05：62-77.

作者簡介：薛晓彦（1988-），女，山东烟台海阳人，青岛大学法学院硕士研究生，主要研究方向：国际公法、国际经济法及相关领域。