The increasing influence of China in the Middle East cannot be disputed and can be attributed to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), concerted efforts with key regional countries, and attempts to mediate conflicts in some of the regions’ trouble spots. Most recently, China’s role as a peacemaker was evident in its efforts to help resolve the Palestinian issue. Since the turn of the 21st century, China’s main interest in the Middle East has been the region’s vast energy resources, which has made it an important partner for the oil producing giants. However, in recent years, Beijing’s interest in the Middle East has evolved to encompass economic development through the facilitation of infrastructure growth and connectivity from the platform of BRI. The Middle East region is an important component of the BRI because of its location, since it is situated not only at the crossroads of three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) but also at the confluence of five seas: the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Caspian Sea, and Black Sea. Furthermore, the region borders vital marine routes, such as the Bosphorous, Dardanelles, Bab El-Mandeb Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz. [1]
