Oman in China's Middle East Policy: New Classical Realism Analysis

This article analyzes the domestic and international roots of the Oman's position in China's Middle East foreign policy. China considers Oman as one of the most important Middle Eastern countries that supplies energy to Beijing. Based on the neoclassical realist point of view, China's expanding relations with Oman are influenced by system-level variables and domestic factors. At the system level, the competition between China and The United States is one of the most significant factors has impacted on the China's Middle East foreign policy. The decline of the US presence in the Middle East region, as well as China's economic growth which requires access to energy resources and markets, and the protection of Beijing's strategic interests, has made Oman's position in China's Middle East policy prominent. At the same time, at the domestic level, internal factors influenced by the Chinese worldview have formed China's Middle East policy regarding Oman. Oman, with its strategic geographical location and a history of collaborative relations, has emerged as a key partner for China in the Middle East. Serving as a crucial link in China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Oman facilitates the connection between Asia, Europe, and Africa through various infrastructure projects and investments.