Document Type : Original Article from Result of Thesis
Authors
1 Associate Professor of International Relations at Allameh Tabatabai University
2 MA Student in the Field of Regional Studies at Allameh Tabatabai University.
Abstract
Highlights
Introduction
This research intends to study the extent of influence that Iran has on the various dimensions and areas of China-Israel relations by stating the role that Iran plays as a variable in these relations. At the beginning of the third millennium, Israel was still isolated in the Middle East and surrounded by countries that differed from it with respect to culture, religion, identity, etc. One of the solutions for Israel to break out of this isolation was to establish relations with an emerging power such as China in order to develop its foreign policy and relations with this country thereby minimizing its regional isolation. Consequently, one reason for the expanding relations between China and Israel can be evaluated by studying their relations. In addition, Iran — which is often declared a strategic partner for China — has the ability of influencing China-Israel relations. Therefore, considering the dearth of research on this topic, we decided to investigate the role Iran plays in the relations between China and Israel. This research tries to answer the question: How does Iran, as a variable, influence Chia-Israel relations?
Methodology
A descriptive analytical approach was used in this article. The present research intended to study the roots of the role played by Iran regarding China-Israel relations. Of course, our focus was on the interval between the second term of office of Mahmud Ahmadinejad as the President starting in 2009 until the end of the second term of office of Hassan Rouhani as the President that ended in 2021.This applied research employed the strategy of analogical modeling . Library resources and documents and electronic resources on the related websites pointed to during the research were the information gathering method.
Data collection in this research was using index cards taken using library texts and distributing questionnaires among the Professors in Political Sciences and International Relations in prestigious Iranian universities (University of Tehran, Allameh Tabatabai University, and Ferdowsi university of Mashhad) and other relevant institutions. Obviously, the views of these professors greatly helped us in making the general conclusions and confirming the hypotheses.
Findings (Results and Discussion)
To answer the question, we start our discussion by saying that the increasing expansion of China-Israel relations, especially during the last two decades, in all areas can be a threat for Iran at the national, regional and global levels. This threat can influence the field of energy and also the military relations between Iran and China. Moreover, in the Project “One Belt One Road,” expansion of these relations can weaken Iran’s status. Expanded China-Israel relations can tip the regional balance to the detriment of Iran and delineate a pathway at the global level that will entail conscious Chinese passivity in decisions taken by international organizations and institutions against Iran.
The increasing expansion of China-Israel relations can lead to the formation of this model in which Israel makes its desirable use of China’s clout in international organizations and institutions to legitimize its actions and reinforce the notion of Iranophobia at the international level. Considering the fact that, in the current structure of the international order led by the United States, this can lead to imposition of punishments on Iran such as sanctions and other forms of pressure in various areas. Therefore, we made the following assumptions in the question that was raised. First, China has considerations related to striking a balance of power in West Asia between the main regional actors such as Iran and Israel. Second, China has strategic considerations concerning Iran’s anti-American actions versus US allies in the current structure of the international order in West Asia including Saudi Arabia, and especially Israel. The third and final assumption was that China’s wish to keep Iran as the main link in the stable energy supply chain to China can influence China-Israel relations.
Conclusion
China and Israel have different interests on a number of issues. This can provide Iran with opportunities to contain the growing relations between them. We can conclude that, although China depends on countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and other oil rich countries for its oil imports, it is dependent on Iran in order to maintain its stable energy supply chain because the mentioned main powers in the Middle East mostly make their moves in coordination with the USA.
Chinese statesmen consider a sudden interruption of energy supplies will lead to energy deficiency and substantial increases in oil prices disrupting the internal order in their country. China’s feeling of being threatened by US strategic domination of the Persian Gulf oil resources reminds it that the US is able to use its control over oil transportation routes to prevent energy supply to China any time it wishes to do so. Consequently, Iran’s anti-American policies can largely remove China’s feeling of being threatened and be influential in the trend of Chinese development.
Iran’s effective role in utilization of the International North-South Transport Corridor between India, Iran, Russia, and finally the European Union can have a strong influence on China-Israel relations in a corridor that is connected to the Port of Haifa and the Mediterranean Sea via the Port of Eilat. Clearly, Israel will be influenced by this corridor.
Israel has tried to prevent as much as possible Iran’s influence in the region by forming a coalition effective in the balance of power so that it can reduce the relative power Iran has in the Middle East. China is aware of this Israeli intent and, therefore, it considers striking a balance of power between Iran and Israel and also between any other two countries in the Middle East to be its best strategy as it will considerably help in maintaining the stable energy supply chain in the region.
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