By: The diplomatic insight

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent diplomatic visit to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan underscores China’s steady, long-term strategy to deepen its influence in the Middle East through economic engagement, mediation, and a deliberate policy of non-interference. Rather than seeking to displace the United States as the region’s primary security guarantor, Beijing is building a complementary role focused on diplomacy, infrastructure investment, and energy cooperation.

China’s pragmatic approach prioritizes stability—critical for its energy security, given that nearly half of its oil imports transit through Middle Eastern waterways. This was evident in its successful mediation of the 2023 Saudi-Iran rapprochement, which reduced tensions without addressing underlying ideological divides, and its refusal to join U.S.-led military actions during the Red Sea crisis, opting instead for diplomatic pressure.

By positioning itself as a facilitator of dialogue and a reliable economic partner, China cultivates trust with regional governments and publics, contrasting with the historical backlash against U.S. military interventions. Wang Yi’s tour signals China’s intent to gradually expand its diplomatic and economic footprint, reinforcing a vision of a multipolar world where influence is exercised through sustained partnerships rather than force. This incremental, structural strategy aims to secure China’s interests while subtly reshaping regional dynamics over the long term.