CHINA AND THE MUSLIM WORLD: THE CASE OF IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, AND TURKEY Bambang Cipto University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
China and the Muslim World China s foreign policy to the Muslim world (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey) is more acceptable and profitable for the countries. What kinds of benefits did China offer so that its diplomacy is more acceptable and profitable for the Muslim world?
Chinese Perception China assumed the Muslim world as source countries and profitable market. China moved to the countries to gain more resources and to expand market for its own product.
China s Foreign Policy Gaining resources and new market is much more important rather than promoting basic values such democracy as the US and other Western countries usually do. China has no regime change agenda in its foreign policy to the Muslim world. This makes it clear that China s foreign policy to these countries is more acceptable. In fact, this policy also profitable for the countries
Peace and Cooperation In general, China tend to make peace and cooperation in the Muslim world. It overcome the tendency to create or produce conflicts or war in the countries. China has no ideological burden when it implement its foreign policy which finally open space for productive and fruitfull cooperations.
China Saudi Relations For more than 20 years China-Saudi Relations were shaped primarily by Chinese need for oil. China become more attractive for Saudi since the US campaigned against terrorism complicated US- Saudi relations. US-Saudi relations becoming more complicated since Obama s mild policy to Iran s Rouhani. China took this opportunity to gain more access for projects other than oil import from Saudi.
China-Saudi Economic Ties In 2013 China was the largest foreign oil importer from Saud surpassing the US. China help Saudi to build peaceful nuclear reactor and also invested in alumunium industry. China also built monorel in Mecca. In 2014 Saudi awarded China to build freight line from Damman dan Riyadh.
China Turkey Relations China s rising was the main reason that attracted Turkey to develop relations with China China offered Turkey several opportunities to develop such as education/training, trade relations, railway development and nuclear energy cooperation
High Speed Train & Nuclear Cooperations China built High Speed Train from the city of Kers (east Turkey) to the city of Edirne (west Turkey) plus sea tunnel in Bosphorous street. The giant project will reduce travel time from 36 hrs to 12 hrs. In 2012 both countries signed an agreement to built peaceful nuclear power in Turkey.
Military Cooperation Since 2010 Turkey started to conduct military exercise with China, a sign of Look East Policy, since Turkey stop to involve Israel and the US, previously the frequent partners. Since 1998 China help Turkey to build a longrange anti-missile system which encouraged the US to stop the deal.
China Iran Relations China Iran relations has been established since 1971 and contunued until today. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 80s China replaced the US as the main weapon supplier for Iran while the US and British help Iraq s Sadam Hussein. In the post-iran-iraq war China deepened its relations with Iran to access its abundant oil supply.
China-Iran Economic Ties China Iran economic ties were shaped, among other things, buy the US sanctions on Iran economy. China came to save Iran by selling its commodities needed by Iranian people without considering the US sanctions. China, on the other hand, imported more oil from Iran. In 2014 China is Iran s largest trading partner.
Railway Projects China s dream was to reform the old dream of connecting East and West through the land. China help Iran to build High Speed Train from Teheran to Mashhad (northern city in border area of Afghanistan). China also funded the subway line project from Imam Khomeini Airport to Teheran. These two giants projects not only help Iran s economy but also disregarded the US sanctions to Iran with constructive aid.
China s Weapons for Iran Since 1980s China has sold anti-ship cruise missile (Silkworm) to Iran. China also sold surface to surface cruise missile to Iran. In 2003 Iran successfully tested its first ballistic missile program which prompted US anger. In 2014 both countries promised to strengthen defense cooperations.
Conclusion (1) Both China and the Muslim countries (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey) shared benefits each other in terms of economic, energy, and military interests. China, in contrast to the US (and other Western countries), managed relations with the Muslim countries without bringing political ideology into the cooperation. China, on the contrary, used pragmatic approach to gain oil & access to the countries. It effectively won the Muslim countries hearts and minds.
Conclusion (2) The Muslim countries gained strategic access from China, which is impossible to get from Western countries, in forms of military and nuclear power technology. China help Iran in overcoming the US economic embargo. The Muslim countries provided China access to reach Europe via land/rail connections. China s foreign policy basically provided benefits for the Muslim countries rather than animosity