December 1, 2024

TEN YEARS LATER: WHO WON THE IRAQ WAR, THE US OR CHINA?

Burning oilfield during Operation Desert Storm, Kuwait.

PDF version available here Many news sources have announced that the answer to the question of who won the Iraq war is simple: the People’s Republic of China. Was China the real winner? If so, in what ways? This study analyzes the question of who won the Iraq War in broader terms, both in retrospect and looking forward. It separates myth from reality and takes a long, hard look at the war’s impact, both short- and long-term, on the economic and strategic interests of China and the … [Read more...]

THE ARAB SPRING: IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINESE POLICY

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L), Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdesslem (C), and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi (R) attend press conference after closing ceremony of Fifth Ministerial Conference of the 
China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Hammamet, Tunisia, May 31, 2012.  (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

The Arab Spring has created new centers of instability in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA). China now finds itself forced to alter attitudes and tactics and seek new opportunities. This article evaluates current Chinese foreign policy in the Middle East and the benefits and challenges to China's policy by examining how recent events affected Beijing in four areas: economy and trade, social stability, welfare of Chinese citizens, and strategic rivalry with the United States. Click for PDF … [Read more...]