THE world is witnessing a significant shift in global power dynamics, with China’s influence on the rise while the United States’ dominance continuing to wane. China’s recent offer to mediate peace talks between Israel and Palestine is just one example of its growing role in regional diplomacy and global leadership. As the United States’ involvement in conflicts such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has led to more conflict than solutions, China’s approach of encouraging dialogue and cooperation may prove more effective in addressing longstanding rivalries in Middle East.
If anything, China’s sudden proactive effort to broker solution to entrenched conflicts reveals its ambition to position itself as a global peacemaker, a role traditionally reserved for the United States. The Gulf countries are recognizing that the United States may no longer be the most reliable security guarantor, and they are trying to diversify their portfolio of external partners, which has enhanced the geopolitical agency of the regional countries. With China expanding its footprint in the region, the unilateral dependency on the US diminishes.
China’s recent diplomatic offensive in brokering the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia shows clearly that it is becoming much more than an economic powerhouse and is adopting a more proactive foreign policy. The launch of the Chinese Global Security Initiative further highlights China’s efforts to rebrand its international role as a responsible and great power.
China’s rising position as a global leader is evident by the huge influx of state leaders lining up to meet Premier Xi Jinping. Leaders from Spain, France, Singapore, Malaysia, and the European Union have all met with the Chinese leader, despite Beijing’s unwavering support for Russia. China’s renewed influence in the Gulf has not gone unnoticed, and it has been recognized by the UK-based thinktank Chatham House in a recent report.
China’s offer to mediate peace talks between Israel and Palestine is a testament to its growing influence and potential as a global leader. Its diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts are expected to be more effective in achieving long-term peace than the involvement of the United States as a global policeman. The peace that follows a China-mediated productive engagement among the estranged Gulf countries could potentially lead to stronger ties and cooperation among them, establishing Beijing as a global peacemaker.
As China’s influence continues to rise, the world can expect to see a shift in the global power structure, with China playing a more significant role in regional diplomacy and global leadership. The United States must adapt to this changing landscape and find ways to work collaboratively with China to achieve common goals, including peace and stability in the Middle East. In South Asia, we should try and emulate the West Asia peace effort. This alone will guarantee regional prosperity and, of course, connectivity in a region where almost one-fourth of the global population lives. At the same time, if China’s wants to be taken seriously as a global peacemaker, it has to try and mend fences with India, cease aggression and seriously address the lingering border issue.
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