與其他鄰近的國家相同,發現美國與中東地區的關係趨於下降後,中國在 中東
地區的活動越來越活躍. 此研究分析了中國對地域性的關注,同時也 評價中國在
中東地區的政治、經濟和安全性行動。從上述行為去評估中國 是否有策略性的接
近相關地區,及這些行動對美國潛藏的意義為何。.
這 篇專題論文專注於中國在中東主要的兩個搭檔國家,例如:伊朗、沙烏地 阿拉
伯。中東目前被分為兩大意識形態近年來,無論是政治、經濟、安全 和地緣戰略
的爭競都處於棘手狀態. 從某種角度來看,中東地區所發生的 現象和兩大意識形
態持續在緊繃狀態有關聯性。 透過在沙烏地阿拉伯和 伊朗之間選擇,或許我們得
以理解及分析中國與中東地區之間的相關性和 活躍性。

China has increasingly active in the Middle East, as some other regional
countries find the decline of the United State engagements to the Middle
East. This research examines China’s interests in the region and assesses
China's political, economic, and security activities in the Middle East to
decide whether China has a strategy toward the area and what does it means
to the United States. The study focuses on China's ties with two of its
leading partners in the Middle East, i.e., Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Middle
East has been divided into two main camps ideology. The political, economic,
security, and geostrategic competition has been tough in recent years. The
happenings in the Middle East somehow are related to the ongoing tension
between these two regional powers. By choosing Saudi Arabia and Iran, we
may be able to understand and examine the involvement, engagement, and
activities of China in the Middle East.

Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... II
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... III
Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... VI
Prologue .................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter one: Introduction ......................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Background: Overview of China's relations with the Middle East .................................. 4
1.2 Research motives ............................................................................................................ 8
1.3 Research objectives ......................................................................................................... 8
1.4 Research methodology .................................................................................................... 9
1.5 Material ........................................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Literature review ........................................................................................................... 10
1.6.1 Historical background and origins .......................................................................... 10
1.6.2 The Sino-Saudi Arabia Relation .............................................................................. 12
1.6.3 Sino-Iran relations .................................................................................................. 13
1.6.4 The Big Brother ....................................................................................................... 14
1.7 Expected contributions.................................................................................................. 17
Chapter Two ............................................................................................................................ 18
2.1 The importance of Middle East for China...................................................................... 18
2.2 Background .................................................................................................................... 18
2.3 Does the PRC have Middle Eastern strategy? ............................................................... 20
2.4 what’s behind the PRC’s activism in the Middle East?.................................................. 21
2.4.1 Energy Security ....................................................................................................... 22
2.4.2 Silk Road as strategic partnerships ......................................................................... 24
2.4.3 Strategic extension of China’s homeland............................................................... 27
2.2.4 Geostrategic crossroads of the world (Regional Rebalancing)............................... 30

2.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 33
Chapter three .......................................................................................................................... 35
Sino-Iranian relations: a somewhat complicated relationship................................................ 35
3.1 A Brief History of Iranian-Chinese Ties .......................................................................... 35
3.2 Relations Before and After Mohammad Raza Shah Pahlavi.......................................... 39
3.3 Arms and Nuclear Cooperation ..................................................................................... 42
3.4 Commercial and Energy Collaboration .......................................................................... 45
3.5 China sanctions on Iran ................................................................................................. 47
3.6 China during the Ahmadinejad Administration and Moderate Rouhani ...................... 49
3.7 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 51
Chapter four ............................................................................................................................ 52
China and Saudi Arabia ties: from Foe to strategic ally ........................................................... 52
4.1 Sino-Saudi Arabia Ties Overview ................................................................................... 52
4.2 Apparatuses from PRC ................................................................................................... 53
4.3 Deng Xiaoping and Saudi–Chinese relations ................................................................. 55
4.4 The golden age .............................................................................................................. 56
4.5 Economic and energy relations ..................................................................................... 58
4.6 Natural Gas and Petrochemicals ................................................................................... 60
4.7 Investment and Trade ................................................................................................... 61
4.8 Nuclear Cooperation ..................................................................................................... 62
4.9 Security and military cooperation ................................................................................. 63
4.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 65
Chapter five: China in Middle East competition with U.S. ...................................................... 67
5.1 China's engagement in the Middle East implication for the U.S. .................................. 67
5.2 An era of great power competition in the Middle East ................................................. 69
5.3 Implication for The United States .................................................................................. 72
5.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 74
Chapter Six ............................................................................................................................... 76

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 76
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 79
Articles and Journals ............................................................................................................ 81

Table of Figures
Table 1.1 ..........................................................................................................................07

Table of Graphs
Graph 2.1 .........................................................................................................................24
Graph 2.2 .........................................................................................................................27
Graph 3.1.........................................................................................................................47
Graph 4.1 ........................................................................................................................59
Graph 4.2 ........................................................................................................................66
Graph 4.3 ........................................................................................................................62

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