On a previous episode of the China Global Podcast, we discussed Beijing’s position on the conflict in Gaza during the early days following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Today, we discuss one of the conflict’s spillover effects– the attacks on cargo and trade ships transiting the Red Sea by the Houthis, an Iranian-backed Shia group governing parts of Yemen. While the Chinese-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran was as the beginning of a “wave of reconciliation” in the region by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, the resurgence of violence since October 7th has proven that prediction to be overly optimistic.
At face value, disruptions of global trade may seem to run counter to Chinese interests, but Beijing’s hesitance to become more deeply involved in the crisis may tell us something about China’s calculations in this crisis. It may also show the limits of Chinese influence in the region.
Host Bonnie Glaser is joined by Ahmed Aboudouh. Ahmed is an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council, and heads the China Studies research unit at the Emirates Policy Center. His research focuses on China’s rising influence in the Middle East and North Africa region, Gulf geopolitics, and the effects of China-US competition worldwide.
Timestamps
[01:36] China’s Statement on Palestine at the International Court of Justice
[08:20] Why is China indirectly supporting Hamas despite its relations with Israel?
[12:11] Effectiveness of China’s Narrative Critical of America and the West
[16:54] Israel, Palestine, and China’s Diplomatic Calculus
[20:12] China’s Hesitance to Counter the Houthis in the Red Sea
[25:15] Does China have leverage over Iran, and if so, will they use it?
[29:59] Circumstances for Deeper Chinese Involvement
Xi Jinping and China's Techno-Industrial Drive
China's Expanding Ties with Latin America and the Caribbean
Illiberal Effects of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment
Article 23: Implications for Hong Kong
Transatlantic Perspectives on China: Consensus and Divergence
Mapping China's Influence in Myanmar's Crisis
Flashpoints in the US-China Relationship
China’s Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference: Implications for PRC Foreign Policy
Beijing’s Response to Taiwan’s Election
How Domestic Politics are Shaping US-China Relations
Balancing Assurances and Threats in the Case of Taiwan: A conversation with Bonnie Glaser, Jessica Chen Weiss, and Thomas Christensen
EU-China Relations on the Eve of the 24th Bilateral Summit
China’s Response to the Israel-Hamas War
China’s Military Diplomacy and its Quest for Bases Abroad
The Philippines-China Row Heats Up
Unpacking China’s New Standard Map
BRICS in China's Foreign Policy Agenda
Shakeup in PLA Rocket Force
Centrality of Artificial Intelligence in US-China Competition
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