Arab Gulf Region And The Giant Powers, Part VIII: Will China Be An Alternative To The US-Led Western Powers? 

By Ali Al-Hail

ccun.org, November 12, 2007

 

I. Summary Of Part VII:

In part VII, I discussed and analyzed fully, why the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region broke ranks with the Bush Administration's apparently, prepared plan to attack Iran. The GCC states' argument was that, another war would undoubtedly, devastate the region even more than the other two wars had aggressively, done. Presumably, the GCC sates led by Saudi Arabia are aware now that, like the other two wars this could-be happen-war would only, serve Israel's interests probably, more than just securing the energy supply most notably, the oil and gas for the US. The GCC states also, seem to be theorizing that, the Israeli lobby is the architect of the other two wars in the region and it is the main inciter behind the drums hitting loudly, and noisily, these days for the war. Perhaps, the public call by Olmert, the Israeli PM last week for the IAEA's Chairman, Mohammed El-Baradei to resign because, according to Olmert's allegations, he is not telling the truth about Iran's nuclear program. In other words, the GCC states are believed to have come to terms that, Olmert wanted the IAEA's Chief to lie and to say that, Iran has the nuclear bomb, so the US goes ahead and launches a war against Iran. Though, Israel, itself has allegedly, 200 (two hundred) nuclear heads, publicly, it didn't declare that. Neither, did Israel allow the IAEA in to investigate the alleged possession of nuclear weapons of mass destruction albeit, it has been mass-destructing the Palestinians and their livelihoods over the past sixty (60) years. Here, came the Saudi wised proposal to have a symposium of states located in Sweden, Austria or Swiss land to supply any state in the region, including Iran with the Uranium to be utilized in a nuclear program for peaceful means. The aim of course, is to disappoint the Israeli Lobby, Olmert and all the anti-Arab\Muslim campaign. Ultimately, to end hopefully, the Iran's standoff with the US-led Western powers. Many in the region argue that, this Saudi wisdom has already, yielded productive fruits. Qatar has last week, sorted out its differences with its only, Southern land bordered biggest brother, Saudi Arabia, because, according to reports that, Qatar has come to a conclusion that, paying a homage to two US basis and hosting more than 6,500 US troops is not cost-effective. Perceivably, these and other US basis in the Arab Gulf region, destabilize rather than stabilize the region. It's believed that, other states in the region may well, revise the presence of the US military basis in its lands and waters. Instead, would the region sustain its economic cooperation with the US based on mutual respect and revising its overhaul policies towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In this part, the China's factor will be discussed. Why did China and vice versa, neglect the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region for decades? Who did fuel such a neglect? Can China be an alternative to the US-led West's double standard and prejudiced outlook in favor to Israel? What cards do both sides have to achieve such a goal? What does qualify China to fulfill such a vacuum? All these questions, I will attempt to answer in the following pages.

II. China And Arab Gulf Region: Meeting Points

Apparently, for mainly, ideological and theological reasons the littoral GCC states of the Arab Gulf region kept a political distance from China for a lengthy period of time. Although, 'communism', as a human principle is ingrained in Islamic theology, in the sense that, commodities such as wealth, harvest and resources are communal, political communism of China and its alleged atheism, were not of interest to the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region. Additionally, China's support to Arab nationalism because of its secularism was not particularly, favored by GCC traditionally, conservative Islamic branded regimes.

Almost similarly, China long, perceived the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region as strategically, irrelevant. This irrelevance has continued even after the GCC states became formally, 'independent' in the early, 1970's. For, China was aware of the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region resentment of radical "Marxism", upon which China's communism is chiefly, built.

Moreover, in the post-WWII and during the cold war era in particular, China was observed to have been most so active both, politically, and militarily, in Northeast and Southeast Asia that, it didn't afford to divert its attention elsewhere. Since the US and some other Western powers, with varying degrees were intensively, present in these two sub-region of volatile Asia then, China was attempting to defend 'Communism' against the exodus of 'Capitalism'. Partly, according to Power Interest News Report (PINR) (November 8, 2007) some of these events offer an explanation "to China's neglect" as regard to paying attention to the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region. However, according to PINR (2007) China's neglect has been transferred into necessity as Beijing began to think of "energy security in general and oil security in particular until 1993 when it became a net oil importing country." (PINR, November 8, 2007).

Many argued that, the US and EU states played a major role in brainwashing the GCC states in order to reinforce the ideological and theological milieus that, were said to divide the two Asian cultures. Their aim was claimed to have obviated the GCC states from touching base with the communist axis. Allegedly, the major goal was to dominate and to monopolize the energy resources particularly, oil and gas of the Arab Gulf region. Being "relatives of the book", unlike the Chinese, had obviously, encouraged GCC states to do business with the US and the EU states, as "some evils are less worse than some other evils". So, they assumed.

The first to break silence with China was Kuwait. It had established diplomatic links with China on March 22, 1971. Arguably, after US-Nixon's\ Kissinger's historical visit to China that, gave an O.K. to US's allies to open on China. Oman followed suit on May 25, 1978; the United Arab Emirates on November 1, 1984; Qatar on July 9, 1988; and Bahrain on April 18, 1989. Saudi Arabia was the last GCC state to establish diplomatic relations with China in July 1990. This Saudi initiative was then, widely, perceived as a signal of picketing to its conventional ally the US because of the latter's partiality in favor of Israel most notably, during the first Palestinian uprising 'Intifada' that, erupted late December 1987.

One presumes, as do many that, since GCC countries are Asians like the Chinese as they both live in one continent, the GCC should learn from the Chinese experience, as China has a lot to offer. Since China is increasingly, becoming an economic giant world-wide therefore, the GCC states ought to (if not must) to open on China, at least from a balanced perspective especially, according to the BBC China is overtaking the US in oil demand of which most is supplied from the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region. More significantly, perhaps, China was mentioned in the Prophet Mohammad's, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH), revelations. The Prophet said "acquire knowledge, even had it been in China". Consequently, it's an instruction; Muslims of the Arab Gulf region, where the Prophet emerged, ought to (if not must) apply, in the same way, they apply the other Prophet's teaching.

III. Why Might China Be An Alternative:

The deteriorating popularity of the US and the West, as a whole to an extent can pave the road to China to become an alterative in the Arab Gulf region. Since China needs the region's oil and the region in turn, needs Chin's low-priced and good quality goods and products, compared to US's and EU's, many in both China and the Arab Gulf region believe that, a bright future is awaiting the two sides.

Already China's outputs fill up the region's markets on which consumers' turnout is observed to have rapidly, becoming phenomenal. Equally, China's opening on the region has recently, been potentially, detectable. For example, over the past more or less, two decades China and the GCC states signed numerous trade agreements. To cite another example, many mutual commercial councils between China and the GCC states have been founded for some time now. Perhaps, more importantly, during the Doha round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, Qatar-led-GCC states promoted China's demands, which had ended into China's joining the WTA that, has globally, been regarded as a historical moment.

Additionally, unlike the US and the rest of the West, China did not participate in any anti-Arab campaign. Thus, China gained the sympathy of many Arabs, despite the US-led Western propaganda, when they, on one hand put an end to Tiananmen square protests of 1989 that, widely, observed by Arabs in general as a US-led Western backed action. On the other hand, the US-led Western campaign during Tiananmen Square and beyond, was seen in the Arab World as a double standard and hypocrisy as a result to their almost unconditional support to Israel in its blatant oppression of the Palestinians.

Further, despite its flaws and short comings, the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976, which was a decade of profound shift and resistance against US-led Western support to Chinese supposedly, bourgeois was perceived by many Arab intellectuals as a necessary initiative to keep China distanced from the "decadence of the West" (Mao Zedong, 1976, BBC Arabic Service). In addition, China is well respected in the Arab World because it is the only country whose despite the departure of Moa did not dissent into chaos like the former Soviet Union and the rest of the former Eastern Block. Also, China is said to have gained a huge credit for keeping its own unique political philosophy. Though it is based on 'Marxism', internally, it has followed carefully, revised and studied reforming of its policies, considering its largest populace in the World (nearly, sixth of the World population).

Simultaneously, it began externally, to follow by and large, since 1990 (the collapse of Berlin Wall and Soviet version of Communism) a quiet diplomacy particularly, with the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region. Now, China is conceived to have speedily, been becoming a real trade compatible partner to the US and the EU states in the Arab Gulf region. It is at the same time, increasingly, becoming overridden by energy security and by especially, oil and gas demands as previously, stated. Hence, China because of all of the latter and the former can be a suitable alternative to the US and the EU states for the GCC states of the Arab Gulf region, had they wished to do so.

Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright

Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Vice-President Of Qatar-Based- Fulbright Group, and Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations.

Can be contacted on: alhailali@yahoo.com