Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
In recent years, China has been expanding its economic influence in the Persian Gulf with its active diplomacy, without seeking to replace America. The recent visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, to Beijing, as well as the visits of senior officials from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this year, reflect China's growing role in the region.
China and America's Competition in the Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, which has traditionally aligned with America, is now witnessing increasing competition between the two powers, China and the United States. However, this competition does not mean that China is trying to replace America. China is approaching the region through trade and technology, which aligns with the economic and developmental interests of the Gulf countries.
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America remains the most important foreign military partner in the Persian Gulf. Defense cooperation, intelligence relations, and the military presence of the U.S. in the region continue to be central to regional security. For years, Washington has measured China's influence against its military power. However, this metric seems to be an incorrect measure for strategic success.
China's Focus on Economic Cooperation
China shows no interest in military competition with America in the Persian Gulf, as it has benefited from the security that Washington has provided in the region. For decades, the U.S. Navy has been securing the maritime routes through which Gulf energy reaches Asian markets. America's military power in the Persian Gulf has contributed to a stability that allows Chinese companies to trade, invest, build infrastructure, and purchase energy.
From China's perspective, this agreement has incurred lower costs and has provided significant returns. Replacing America's security system would mean accepting political, financial, and military costs to become the guarantor of security in the Persian Gulf, which is not in China's interest. Instead, China has focused on sectors that can enhance its economic power and aims to become an important partner for Gulf countries in economic fields.
Chinese companies are also increasingly connected with sectors that shape the region's future, including renewable energy, communications, manufacturing, logistics, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure.
China seeks cooperation with Gulf countries that can contribute to the capital, technology, infrastructure, and industrial partnerships necessary for building these more diversified economies.
In this regard, China does not seek Gulf governments to lean towards pro-Chinese policies; it is sufficient for them to adopt a publicly anti-China stance for the economic costs to significantly increase.
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