China-MENA Podcast

Our pilot episode marks the launch of the China-MENA podcast, a monthly program that goes beyond the headlines to provide a deeper look at engagement between China and countries in the Middle East – North Africa and give our listeners a better understanding of an important emerging geopolitical shift. Listen here!

Dr. Yuting Wang joins us to discuss Chinese Community Building in the Middle East, and how increased migration in recent decades has aided in the development of China-Gulf ties, with the UAE being one of the nations with a significant Chinese population. Dr. Wang will also explore the influence of Chinese communities in the UAE, and the social relationships between Chinese and locals. Listen here!

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Dawn Murphy to discuss China’s multilateral approaches and outreach to countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Dr. Murphy is an Associate Professor of International Security Studies with the Department of International Security Studies at the U.S. Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Listen here!

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Mohammed Al-Sudairi to discuss China-GCC Relations in terms of people, culture and businesses, the political view of the GCC towards China,  how the US-China competition narrative is received by GCC countries,  and how people from the Gulf see China.  Dr. Mohammed Al-Sudairi is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of Asian Studies Program at King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) located in Saudi Arabia.  Listen here!

In this episode, we are joined by Camille Lons, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), currently detached to Taipei, to discuss how Europeans see China as a rising global player in the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa and the world.  Camille Lons and host Jonathan Fulton also discuss the EU’s response to the rising influence of China in MENA and the world; the areas where the EU and China can cooperate in the Middle East; how China’s growing presence in the region affects EU’s interests; the EU’s position in the US-China geopolitical competition, and China’s strong influence in MENA despite warnings and issues raised by Western allies, among other topics. Listen here!

In this episode, we are joined by Brigadier General (Ret.) Assaf Orion, Director of the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center at the Institute For National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, to discuss the complex Sino-Israeli relationship, Israel’s perspective of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese-operated port of Haifa in Northern Israel, China’s meddling in Israeli domestic affairs and its role in the Israel-Palestine question, and Israel’s perspective on China grand strategy on MENA. Listen here!

In this podcast’s episode, we are joined by Nadege Rolland, a distinguished fellow of China studies at The National Bureau of Asian Research. Nadege joins us to discuss China’s opposing view against the international order, the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative as alternatives to the western-led global order, China’s narrative to the world as a rising power in the geopolitical stage, and its control and strategy in maintaining power locally and globally. Listen here!

In this episode, we are joined by two esteemed guest from the US State Department: Dr. Julian Gewirtz, Deputy Coordinator for China Global Affairs, and Chris Backemeyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Assistance Coordination and Regional and Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Near East ern Affairs. Our guests provide unique insights from a US perspective on the potential implications of China’s growing presence in the Middle East. They examine the region’s strategic landscape and China’s efforts to replace US dominance in global governance and discuss the challenges and opportunities for cooperation between China and the US in the MENA region, as well as the priorities of the US in the Middle East. Tune in to gain a better understanding of how the US perceives and reacts to China’s evolving role in the region and how recent developments may shape the region’s future and US response. Listen here!

In this episode, we embark on a thought-provoking journey into China’s involvement in conflict resolution within the region. Your host, Jonathan Fulton, is joined by the insightful voices of Helena Legarda and Dr. Sanam Vakil. Together, they dissect China’s strategic approach to mediating conflicts and its consequential impact on the Middle East.

Amidst a landscape seeking fresh perspectives in conflict resolution, a pertinent question emerges: Can China wield transformative influence? As we navigate the intricate terrain, we invite you to delve into the nuances, obstacles, and potential avenues presented by China’s mediation role in this dynamic region.

Brace yourselves for an enlightening discourse that promises to reshape your vantage point on global politics. Listen here!

In this episode, titled “10 Years On: China’s Belt & Road Initiative and its Future in the Middle East,” our host Jonathan Fulton is joined by esteemed guests David O. Shullman and Yun Sun to  delve into the current state of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for the Middle East.

The episode analyzes the recently held Belt and Road Forum, the involvement of various MENA countries in the initiative, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Get ready to explore the complexities of China’s global infrastructure plan and its impact on the Middle East, as we discuss the geopolitical dynamics, competing interests, and potential alternatives to the BRI. Listen here!

In this episode, our host Jonathan Fulton and guests Li-Chen Sim and Mark Katz explore the growing collaboration between China and Russia and its impact on the Middle East, including the amplification of influence through media collaboration as a force multiplier. We unravel the complexities of Sino-Russian engagement in the region, discussing Russia’s interests, China’s role, the Ukraine war’s influence, and the Middle East perspective: Russia as a muscle and weapon supplier versus China as a financial power.  Listen here!

In this episode, host Jonathan Fulton and guest Kerry Brown discuss the domestic drivers shaping China’s engagements in the Middle East. They unravel the complexities of China’s internal landscape, including the middle-class aspirations and interest in international relations and the impact of Xi Jinping’s leadership. Jonathan and Kerry also analyze China’s internal party dynamics and the intimate link between China’s international interests and what serves the party-state’s stability, shedding light on its diplomatic decision-making and potential implications for MENA. Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of China’s foreign policy strategy and domestic underpinnings. Listen here!

Join us as we dive deep into China’s maritime dynamics with Isaac B. Kardon, a senior fellow for China studies in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Isaac’s expertise in maritime disputes, global port development, and the People’s Liberation Army Navy sheds light on China’s evolving role in shaping international & MENA waters. Discover Isaac’s groundbreaking book on China’s maritime strategies and delve into his research on China’s impact beyond its shores. Uncover China’s ambitions in global waters, from deep-sea mining to infrastructure development with dual-use functionality to achieve civil-military integration.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on China’s maritime might and its implications for the global order and the Middle East and North Africa. Listen here!

In this episode, Jean-Loup Samaan, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and a research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute, joins us to dissect the rise of the new minilateral movement in the Middle East, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the groundbreaking corridor, and its impact on the region compared to Chinese initiatives. Explore the ongoing significance of IMEC and its uncertainties, including financial concerns. Dive deeper into:

– Shifting Alliances: How is the post-Gaza war landscape impacting Israel’s role in minilateral movements, especially US-led, potentially boosting China’s influence?

– The Abraham Accords Ripple Effect: How did the Accords kickstart and pave the way for a new era of cooperation in the Middle East?

– IMEC’s Impact and France’s Role: Will it become a game-changer for India-MENA trade, and what is France’s strategic engagement in the grouping?

This episode offers a deep dive into the evolving power dynamics of the Middle East, with China, India, and the US vying for influence. Tune in to understand how these minilateral groupings, like IMEC, might reshape the region’s future. Listen here!

In this episode of China-MENA, titled “From the Red Sea to the Indo-Pacific: Expanding Cooperation Between the Gulf and Asia,” host Jonathan Fulton engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies to discuss the Gulf States’ views on and expanding ties with the Indo-Pacific, the Indo-Pacific’s strategic importance for Gulf security, defense and geoeconomic priorities, and the influence of the US, China, and India on Gulf alliances. They also discuss China’s role in Saudi Arabia’s energy sectors, the impact of Indian and Chinese diasporas in the UAE, and India’s naval presence in the Gulf.

Join us to understand how Gulf-Asia cooperation addresses future challenges and opportunities, from the Red Sea to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Listen here!