Xiplomacy unravels the Middle East puzzle
DIPLOMACY is an art and it has been proved with the commitment of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China by brokering a deal between two former arch-rivals – Saudi Arab and Iran. Under the strong leadership of Xi Jinping, China’s diplomacy has been taking leading initiatives to develop fresh ideas and break new ground in the light of new trends in the international environment and China’s domestic reform and development agenda.
The peace deal which helped both nations shake hands and resumed bilateral ties was absolutely taken as a surprise by many countries that were minting money by selling disastrous weapons with the manipulation of enmity between Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, this diplomatic block-buster initiative generated a sigh of relief for many who have wished for such a good deal for the last many years, especially the Middle Eastern and regional countries, that were facing the painful implications.
The unseen and profound changes in the diplomatic arena pushed by the US and Western countries have unfolded many uncertainties that created obstacles for establishing sustainable and durable peace in the region and across the globe. Amid the voices of isolationism and trade protectionism linking with De-coupling and De-risking such a peace deal has become a huge buzz in international politics as it is reshaping global diplomatic norms and values where the role of Western nations is shrinking while the diplomatic value of diplomacy is on the rise.
The willingness of Saudi Arab and Iran for resuming bilateral relations under the umbrella of Xiplomacy has been termed a victory for international security and it has just become possible with the China-proposed Global Security Initiative (GSI) which is helping the world to combat multiple security challenges for ensuring sustainable peace. As the global security environment gets complex and undefined owing to the American and Western misadventures, GSI is absolutely reflecting China’s commitment to safeguarding and protecting global peace and strong resolve to defend international security governance based on the principles of win-win cooperation and mutual respect.
The GSI supports and upholds the basic and significant principles and values of the United Nations in security parameters, supports dialogue, multilateralism, peaceful coexistence of countries, ending up conflicts and balanced development for everyone by strongly rejecting the hegemonic posturing, bullying and domineering practices. The wide welcoming diplomatic engagements of China in the Middle East show that the concept of a shared future of mankind has been accepted globally and Beijing has been moved forward from an observer to a peacemaker solving the historical crisis.
The agreement of two big countries – Saudi Arab and Iran – for a peace deal under China demonstrates that the role of Beijing at the regional and global levels is blindly trusted by the international community as it does not carry any kind of terms and conditions or pressures and the most importantly it is a kind of an act that shows China’s sincerity and selfless attitude towards peace and stability. It is obvious to many that China’s diplomatic initiatives are yielding benefits for all countries in the region and the country would be playing a more constructive and meaningful role as a global peace defender.
China’s approach to pacify the conflict in a well-connected diplomatic manner has laid a solid foundation and shed light of hope for other conflicting zones for the resolution of disagreements in a more peaceful way. The peace deal has eased the tension between the two influential Muslim countries and paved the way for them to work together for building a shared future for mankind in the ambit of peaceful co-existence.
It is believed that Middle Eastern countries have realized that the path of socio-economic development of their people is directly connected with durable peace and they will not allow any hostile forces to trigger the conflicts and jeopardize regional security. It has been mapped out by Middle Eastern nations that boosting prosperity, peace and well-being of the people must be taken into their own hands and they must not be dependent on those Western capitals that have always only triggered conflicts for their vested interests.
The deal patronized by Beijing is defusing the decade-long monopoly of American influence from the region and dislodging the US from its authoritative position as various nations have been adopting a new multipolar world order than the unilateral one that was based on a zero-sum game. The arrogance of Americans and their monopoly on the so-called definition of peace have been coming to an end as the international community has embraced the formula of peace and stability incorporated with Chinese characteristics that are based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The recognition of China’s importance and its positive and meaningful role in international diplomacy has emerged as a cornerstone and hints that these countries want to prosper in collaboration with Beijing to gain common development. The positive changes in the Middle East narrates that these nations have committed to avoiding any kind of confrontational bloc politics and will be a part of solidarity, cooperation, dialogue and reconciliation which is the strong firm trend of the time. The Chinese initiative of resolving the crisis and establishing peace has increased its role in a balanced and calm manner that will be bringing more positive changes in the world order.
—The author is a researcher on diplomacy and a media fellow of China-South Asia and South East Asia Press Centre.
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