China’s growing political and economic involvement in West Asia is proving to be a game changer for the region. Throughout the last 2 decades, the U.S. has maintained its influence, presence, and power over the majority of West Asia’s political, economic, and military affairs. The presence of the U.S. has taken the region back hundreds of years as the enmity, chaos, instability, and terrorism have only spiked since 2003.

For instance, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and even states like Pakistan and Afghanistan – which fall in the broader categorization of West Asia – were affected because of the invasion which caused instability and intensified the working and resurfacing of extremist organizations as they used Western intervention as a pretext to operate, mobilize and function.

China’s engagement in West Asia is seen as a catalyst for regional stability, contrasting with the destabilizing effects of U.S. interventions.

The U.S. war on terror killed some 4.5 million deaths in these countries. Additionally, the resurfacing of these terrorist organizations which later were also supported and financed by the U.S. in Syria and other parts, and the involvement of the U.S. itself caused thousands of deaths, toppled governments, and created and worsened already crippling economic conditions of the region.

The U.S. involvement and the rise of the worst kind of terrorist groups such as ISIS in Syria were supported by the U.S. in the region to dominate the region and extract its resources contributing to the loss of lives, instability, and chaos. The presence also intensified the conflicts among various Arab countries as well as other Muslim countries and helped the U.S. plunder the resources of the region. In 2022, it was reported that the U.S. is stealing some 83% percent of the total output of Syrian oil. The presence of the U.S., motivated by the region’s resources and critical geo-strategic location, has only widened and fueled the ethnic, religious as well as national conflicts of the region.

Unlike the U.S.’s policies of destabilizing and intervening in regional countries’ internal affairs, China has become a catalyst for regional stability and cooperation. The efforts such as engaging with the Taliban regime, role in reproachment between Saudi-Iran,and  Saudi-Yemen, and the role at international and domestic levels regarding the Palestinian issue such as the firm stand at the UN and propagation of ceasefire agreement, hosting of Hamas and Fateh representatives in April 2024, in China for reconciliation, firm stance on the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as Palestine capital, respectively, are all aimed at stabilizing the region and ensuring regional stability and mutual economic growth.

The economic engagement with Iran and the signing of the 25-year agreement which involves investing $400 billion dollars in Iran for cooperation on different projects including infrastructure development, port construction, and work on high-tech and military cooperation. Similarly, the deals with Afghanistan signed in 2023 for mining of minerals and oil extraction, would bring an investment of $540 million into Afghanistan and help China fill the vacuum left by the U.S. after its 20 years of invasion which caused conflicts, chaos, and instability.

The U.S. war on terror has resulted in 4.5 million deaths, exacerbating chaos and instability in countries like Iraq and Syria.

Moreover, in 2017, China signed an agreement with the Arab Chambers of Commerce to include Lebanon in its flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Beirut received aid of over $100 million as part of the 2018 China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). Additionally, China has also increased its engagement with Saudi Arabia in its civil nuclear program.

Many other projects concerning regional connectivity and economic cooperation show the vision of Chinese leadership in taking the place of a stabilizing actor in West Asia with the capability to ensure mutual progress enhance regional connectivity and promote peace. This leads to the question of what’s motivating Beijing to actively participate in West Asia?

China’s interests in the Middle East involve economic cooperation and regional connectivity with West Asian states. However, there is yet another reason, a major one, driving China to take an active part in West Asia affairs which is its strategic interests concerning energy supply and the safety of sea (shipping) lanes for trade. China’s major energy consumption comes from west Asian states including Iran and passes through key locations of the Strait of Hormoz, and the Gulf of Oman, and also uses the region’s strait of Bab al, Mandeb for energy supplies.

Moreover, China also has a strong sense of insecurity with the U.S.’s rising power in the Indo-Pacific region and needs allies like Iran which has a strong naval presence in the Pacific Ocean and sees the US with the same Lense of rivalry. Here, China could use the support in case of any conflict with the U.S., China could use and leverage these allies.

China has, reportedly, helped Saudi Arabia indigenously build its missile arsenal and helped UAE with a civil nuclear reactor which shows efforts to make these states independent in terms of security. However, these states will take time to come out of reliance on the U.S. In regards to Iran and the axis of resistance, they have exhibited their commitment and resistance against the U.S. hegemony and would never align with the U.S., and China can rely on them to side with her in any unwanted event that may happen in the region and endangers China’s strategic interests.

China’s $400 billion investment agreement with Iran aims at infrastructure development and military cooperation, filling the vacuum left by the U.S.

Iran has a strong presence in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bab al Mandeb, and Gulf of Oman, and controls the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s naval forces have undergone rapid change in recent times, with their ships operating 24/7 in the region, which could help China provide security and safety for its imports and exports. These strategic choke points are either directly controlled by Iran or influenced by its regional allies, such as Yemen in Bab al Mandeb.

The recent stand of Yemen in Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea has halted shipments to Israel and even forced Germany’s warships to change the route of their warships out of fear of Yemen’s attacks. Yemen recently, since the start of the conflict in Palestine, has attacked multiple times the aircraft carriers of the U.S. and even their destroyers. This looming threat forced the complete diversion of ships linked to Israel or Western countries that were shipping and trading with Israel via the Red Sea.

The “Operation Prosperity Guardian” and the naval coalition force made by the U.S. I n 2023 comprising of European states and regional states saw a massive failure in stopping or deterring Yemen from attacking ships in the Red Sea showing growing capabilities, will, and capacity of Yemen to influence the regional waters according to their interest and to support their allies in Palestine.

Interestingly, many Arab countries did not participate in the collision force made by the U.S. out of fear of Yemen striking them directly or due to their interests. This not only shows credibility but also the ability of the Iran-led alliance of West Asia to dominate the affairs not just on land but in the sea as well making China more involved in the region to make new friends for its strategic interests and to to upset the already shaking balance of power of the region.

Apart from China’s strategic interests and filling the vacuum left by the U.S. in the region, China’s foreign policy of noninterventionism, mutual growth, and peaceful rise has influenced China’s active participation in the region and China is also seen as acceptable by many major states in West Asia. The policies of the US were always interventionist in nature and created chaos, instability, and destruction. China’s growing influence, and active participation in West Asia and its projects display a positive image of mutual growth, prosperity, and stabilization of the region. It also provides an opportunity for rival states of the region to unite under one umbrella.

China’s foreign policy emphasizes non-interventionism and mutual growth, positioning it as a stabilizing force in West Asia.

China’s engagement in West Asia marks a significant change and challenges the US-led influence characterized by interventionist policies that caused destruction and chaos in the region. China’s focus on economic development, non-interventionist approach, and efforts for diplomatic solutions to existing regional issues position China as a stabilizing force accompanied by mutual economic growth and enhanced connectivity.

Certain challenges remain for China to completely dominate the region; however, China’s active participation signals transformative, long-term peace and stability in the region. These happenings not only reshape the regional dynamics but also highlight the broader implications of China’s smooth and peaceful rise accompanied by economic connectivity and stability.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.