What is behind the hype about the new Iran-China partnership?
AL JAZEERA
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Guy Burton, author of the recently published book, China and Middle East Conflicts, took exception to a story published by The Hill, headlined: A China-Iran partnership would make China the Middle East arbiter.
“Articles like this overplay China’s investment and influence in Iran (and Israel),” Burton tweeted.
“How much of this is intentional (to influence US policy) or because of a misunderstanding of Chinese interest and capacity?” he asked.
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Burton explained that the real target of Washington is Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While the Trump administration was busy setting the Middle East alight by withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, the Chinese were building ports and industrial zones around the region.
Primarily a means of projecting soft power, the BRI may eventually become a cause of conflict in the Middle East because it may result in greater competition by countries to attract Chinese interest and investment, Burton said.
“The outcome may be that China ceases to be an outside observer of conflict and becomes an active – albeit reluctant – participant,” he said.
