The Chinese Perspective on Conflict Resolution in the Gulf

Abstract

The Middle East has been in a state of turbulence, poor governance and inadequate development for a long time. The Gulf remains stable, although it is caught up in various regional disputes. It is a major task for both the international community and regional countries to consider how to effectively resolve these conflicts, promote regional governance and eventually achieve the long-term stability of the Gulf and the entire Middle East. China, with its commitment to peace, development and cooperation, is cautiously participating in reforming the Middle Eastern governance system. It is devoted to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future of humankind, albeit in a prudent manner; it highlights being an important promoter of peace, stability and industrialisation in the Middle East; it also engages in peace talks and conflict resolution in an incremental manner. China is putting the concept of peaceful development and mutual benefits into practice and helps the Middle East to embark on a new road of comprehensive reform, but so far it lacks specific scenarios and concrete roadmaps for peace in the Gulf. It also stresses interconnectivity and amity via interaction, but the Gulf conflict resolutions still have a long way to go. This paper explores Chinese principles in resolving regional conflicts from the aspects of history, politics, development, security and civilisation, and forecasts what hurdles China may face on the road to playing a bigger role.