Today, China has overtaken the US as the largest buyer of oil from the Middle East, importing more than half of its crude oil from the region, which raises serious logistical problems. The country is still vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices caused by geopolitical and military crises in the Middle East. While counting on Washington to guard these important ocean shipping lanes, Beijing’s pursuit of energy security often clashes with the US’ Middle East policy. This political reality differs immensely from the Chinese media’s projection of the country’s willingness to assert its military influence in the Middle East. As the US has paid a high price to be a hegemon in the Middle East, China has deliberately kept a low profile and seldom chooses sides in conflicts.

Source: Taipei Times September 30, 2019 15:56 UTC