THE Chinese peaceful diplomacy has become “icon” of diplomacy, dialogue and development in the world.
The Chinese-facilitated “Saudi-Iran” peace agreement has now become a “beacon” of hope for the international community to bury the hatchet and live peacefully, ignoring and overcoming all psychological, social, political, economic and geo-strategic “hangovers” of the past. Now the Game Theory has new chessboard of power politics, new players, new alliances and new iron triangular in the region. Ultimately, new oil order is in the making which would change the socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic dimensions of the regional as well as international energy supply chains in the days to come.
Afterwards, the intensity of vertical and horizontal diplomatic “rapprochement”, serious political engagement and consultation of all the regional stakeholders ranging from Yemen, Syria and the UAE and gearing of mutual understanding between military/secret agencies of the two countries vividly reflected “drastic” change in the socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic landscapes of the GCC, MENA and even South East Asia. Reciprocal invitations of the head of the states have further strengthened the prospects of regional peace, stability and interfaith harmony. Most recently, interestingly China’s Foreign Minister made calls to his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts showing readiness of China to help facilitate peace talks between the two sides, in its latest effort at mediation in the region. It is another peaceful initiation of the Chinese government to lessen prevailing tensions between the two sides.
According to the Foreign Ministry in separate phone calls to the two officials Qin Gang expressed China’s concern over intensifying tensions between Israel and Palestinians and its support for a resumption of peace talks. It seems that China has emerged as a diplomatic equalizer and player in the Middle East which is good omen for the region and its people alike.
According to the official statement while talking to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin stressed the need to have peaceful negotiations for resolving the escalating tensions. Qin quoted Saudi Arabia-Iran peace agreement that has set a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue. He told Cohen that Beijing encourages Israel and the Palestinians to show political courage and take steps to resume peace talks. “China is willing to provide convenience for this he further added. Unfortunately, Israel and the Palestinians have not held substantive peace talks on ending the century-long conflict in over a decade. The incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is committed to expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank which most of the international community considers illegal and an obstacle to durable peace and several of his key allies are staunchly opposed to the creation of an independent Palestinian State. Cohen expressed his country’s commitment to reducing tensions, but said the problem appeared to be difficult to resolve in the short term, the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said. However, peace should be pursued through peaceful means rejecting all kinds of inhumane tactics to indiscriminate the weaker party.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Qin and Cohen discussed “the importance of maintaining quiet at the Temple Mount, particularly in the final days of Ramadan. Qin also told
Moreover, the landscape of greater Eurasian Region is also badly needed the Chinese “magical” diplomatic assistance to further strengthen the prospects of greater regional connectivity, immense socio-economic integration, peace and security. The emergence of middle corridors, middle players along with recreation of “alternative route” all highlight the importance of new Game Theory in the region facilitating conflict resolution under the “flagship” of China. In this regard, the early initiation and completion of “Zangezur Corridor” a mega project of regional and trans-regional connectivity would be a “game changer” for Azerbaijan’s greater regional connectivity and trans-regional trade & commerce activities on regular basis with easiest, smoothest and shortest trade route connecting all the regional countries in the days to come. It would also be mutually beneficial for Armenia which badly requires regional economic integration. If agrees, Beijing peaceful diplomatic means would be a “healing therapy” for both the conflicting parties in the days to come.
In this regard, it is suggested that ideally policy makers of both states should follow as holistic and comprehensive “economic diplomacy” at “bilateral” and “trilateral” levels to convenience the countries to come out of their self-defined geographical limitations, psychological barriers, political constrains and jointly work for the construction of Zangezur Corridor for achieving immense socio-economic integration and greater regional connectivity. The policy makers should also positively think to seek the “Chinese magic hand” to overcome prevailing hurdles to start the construction of Zangezur Corridor as soon as possible. Interestingly, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also urged Iran to return its three islands it had been illegally occupied for the last five decades. The UAE’s minister of State for International Cooperation said Iran’s occupation of the three islands was a violation of her country’s sovereignty.
The UAE has renewed its call for an end to Iran’s occupation of the three UAE islands—Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa—seized by Iran in November 1971 after the British withdrawal. Located in the Strait of Hormuz, these islands remain a point of contention. It is suggested that both countries pursue Chinese mediation to resolve this longstanding issue. As the world undergoes drastic changes, so does the GCC, Middle East, and MENA. Chinese peaceful diplomacy has introduced new parameters for peace, stability, and harmony, urging conflicting parties to embrace coexistence and multiculturalism. The Saudi-Iran peace agreement has redefined Game Theory with new players, avenues, and frameworks for socio-economic, geopolitical, and geostrategic cooperation—offering hope for regional and global peace. President Xi’s holistic initiatives—Community with Shared Prosperity, Global Development, Global Security, and Global Civilization—have overshadowed Western-driven power politics, replacing hegemonic designs with unity, stability, and development across the region.
—The writer is President, Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge, Executive Director, CSAIS, regional expert: China, CPEC & BRI.
