- 05 Apr 2024
Regional Perceptions of China’s Engagement in MENA
(This event is organised by MEI Political Economy research cluster.)
Between Xi Jinping’s December 2022 visit to Riyadh and the August 2023 expansion of BRICS to include several Middle Eastern countries, China’s power and influence in the MENA region appeared to gain significant momentum. Regional expectations of China as a major external actor also grew, with many countries deepening their bilateral cooperation with Beijing across economic, technological, diplomatic, and increasingly strategic sectors. However, China’s responses to the Gaza war and the Red Sea crisis have revealed a disconnect between the desires of the Middle East and what China is willing to provide. This presentation will delve into the regional perceptions of China’s expanding presence in the Middle East. Drawing on fieldwork conducted across the Middle East since mid-2022, Dr. Fulton will explore how China is perceived as a partner by individuals in the region.
This public talk will be conducted both in-person and online via Zoom on Friday, 5 April 2024, from 3 pm to 4.30 pm SGT. All are welcome to participate. This event is free, however, registration is compulsory. Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom details closer to the date of the event.
Photo caption: (FILES) In this file photo, Saudi Arabia’s then-deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on August 31, 2016. – When Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Saudi Arabia from December 7, 2022, the oil-rich kingdom will seek mostly economic gains rather than a meaningful shift away from its long-time protector the United States, analysts say. Xi will arrive for a three-day visit including meetings with Saudi royals, the regional Gulf Cooperation Council and other Middle East leaders, Saudi state media said. (Photo by Rolex DELA PENA / POOL / AFP)
About the Speakers
Nonresident Senior Fellow
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs
Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative
Jonathan Fulton is a nonresident senior fellow for Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs and the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. He also serves as an associate professor of political science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.
An expert on Chinese policy toward the Middle East, Fulton has written widely on the topic for both academic and popular publications. He is the author of China’s Relations with the Gulf Monarchies and co-editor of External Powers and the Gulf Monarchies.
Fulton received his PhD from the University of Leicester, where his dissertation focused on Chinese relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. He also holds degrees from Staffordshire University, the University of Southern Queensland, and Dalhousie University.
Senior Research Fellow
Middle East Institute, NUS
[Moderator] Dr Jean-Loup Samaan is a Senior Research Fellow specialising in Middle East strategic affairs, with a particular focus on Israel–Hizballah conflict and the evolution of the Gulf security system. Prior to joining MEI, he held various positions in the policy sector. He worked as a visiting scholar with the RAND Corporation (2007-2008) and as an advisor at the directorate for strategic affairs of the French Ministry of Defense (2008-2011). He then gained extensive experience in the domain of military education and training, first as a deputy director for the Middle East Faculty of the NATO Defense College (2011-2016) and as an associate professor in strategic studies with the UAE National Defense College (2016-2021).
Dr Samaan has written four books as well as various articles for academic and policy journals. He holds a PhD in political science from University of Paris La Sorbonne (2009) and an accreditation to supervise research (2017) by the doctoral school of Sciences Po, Paris.
Event Details
1. Middle East Institute, NUS
MEI Conference Room
29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Blk B #06-06 Singapore 119620
2. via zoom
