China suffers major blow in the Middle East

The collapse of the 61-year-old Baath Party-established oppressive regime in Syria is being celebrated with cries of freedom all over the country. The collapse of the regime has exposed the limits of China’s diplomatic strategies in the Middle East. China’s strong support for Assad last year was dealt a major blow with the fall of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
HAS CHINA’S SUPPORT FOR ASSAD BEEN IN VAULT?
Last year, China hosted Assad in the country with great pomp and warmth, and Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Assad to “stand against foreign intervention” and support “the reconstruction of Syria.” However, when the Syrian National Army and opposition forces brought down the Assad regime, China’s influence in the Middle East suffered a major shake-up. This development revealed how limited China’s diplomatic power is in the region.
CHINA’S SPACE OF INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAS DIFFICULT
In the assessment brought to the agenda by the Crimean News Agency, China has made various attempts to gain more influence in the Middle East and has mediated to end the long-standing hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, the fall of the Assad regime has overshadowed these successes. Analysts show that the failure of Iran and Russia, China’s strongest supporters in the region, in Syria has caused great harm to China’s global ambitions.
CHINA’S ECONOMIC POWER REMAINS LIMITED
On the other hand, China’s response to the current situation in Syria has been quite cautious. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has only emphasized the security of its citizens, called for a “political solution,” and demanded that stability in Syria be established as soon as possible. However, Chinese diplomatic circles believe that the timing should be determined correctly before recognizing a new government. They also argue that new strategies should be developed in line with China’s current economic interests.
Syria joined China’s “Belt and Road” initiative in 2022, but Chinese companies have not yet made major investments. China is in a much weaker position than it was in 2013-2014, which limits its strategic influence in the Middle East. The fall of the Assad regime has led China to reconsider its diplomatic goals in the Middle East.