A Comparative Study of U.S. and Chinese Policies in the Persian Gulf

Pointing to the geostrategic importance of the Persian Gulf, this article seeks to analyze the differences and commonalties between the policies pursued by the United States and China in the region. This analysis will demonstrate that both China and the United States seek to maximize their own interests in areas of energy, arms sale and commerce. The U.S., however, displays an overall securitized and ideological conduct as a result of the role it has envisaged for itself as a hegemon. In contrast, China acts pragmatically in the Persian Gulf because its increasing domestic needs are met in this region. Expanded U.S. military presence in the region following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and U.S. attack on Iraq after the September 11th events would attest to the extraordinary importance of the Persian Gulf for the United States. Hence, while taking advantage of energy and economic opportunities, it intends to engage in fundamental changes in the region including encouragement of reforms and regime change in the Persian Gulf countries, protection of Israel’s security and isolating Iran. On the other hand, Chinese economic and political relationships with the Persian Gulf states have increased rapidly as China pays special attention to the region as one with huge energy resources in the world. Chinese need to the region’s economic interests and energy has made it distance itself from hardline military policies and instead pursue soft non-ideological policies. For this reason, China seeks to enlarge its collaboration with the regional countries while avoiding any confrontation with the great powers.