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In September, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a sizable memorandum of understanding. This agreement marked the first joint space project between the two countries. China will help the UAE now one of the most powerful countries of the world, disembark its first rover on the moon. China and the United Arab Emirates are getting closer; in fact, relations between the two countries are at an all time high. However, this tightening of the grip has come at the expense of the United States.
After Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s largely unexpected August trip to Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates was quick to repeat its support for China. Specifically, in a rather provocative statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the Emirates “affirmed its support for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, warning that the “provocative visits” threatened the delicate ecosystem of China. international peace. The statement ends by emphasizing the importance of the “One China” principle, a position held by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there is only one sovereign state under the name of China and that Taiwan , officially called the Republic of China, contrary to popular belief, meets Beijing. The statement did not need to mention the United States to criticize the United States. For the UAE, a country in which 76% of the population identifies as a Muslim, to throw such a weight behind the CCP, a treacherous regime responsible for suppressing the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority group based in Xinjiang, speaks volumes. This shows us how strong the bond between the UAE and China is. Unfortunately — for the United States, at least — that bond seems to be getting stronger every day.
Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, recently announced that the Emirates, strategically located between Asia, Europe and Africa, intend to consolidate their business relations in China. Al Zeyoudi spoke of shared “visions and strategic goals” and “a golden era of comprehensive economic relations between the two countries”. In the future, he added, the two countries want to expand and diversify existing economic and trade enterprises. The minister also mentioned collaboration in areas such as clean energy, infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) research. The AI update is particularly important, in large part because artificial intelligence is now the foundation of all computational learning. From medicine to autonomous vehicles, AI is redefining what it means to be human. The UAE has invested far more $2 billion in AIwhile China has invested $17 billion. Fortunately, the United States has invested three more time like China.
The United Arab Emirates, a member of China’s Belt and Road initiative, is a major beneficiary of Beijing’s investment. Take the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, an industrial hub located in the heart of the United Arab Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi, for example. A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, Khalifa is one of fastest growing container ports around the world. Since 2019, China has invested well over 3.2 billion yuan ($505 million) in the Port Integrated Industrial Zone. Today, more than 6,000 Chinese companies operate in the Emirates, and more than 300,000 Chinese live there. China is now that of the United Arab Emirates first business partner.
According to its website, Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), the largest free trade zone in the United Arab Emirates recently announced “a doubling of Chinese companies in its free zone. The DMCC now adds “an average of more than two Chinese companies per week”. The DMCC is currently home to over 700 Chinese companies, “representing almost 12% of Chinese companies in the UAE”. Dubai is not only the main business center of the UAE; it is that of the Middle East main business center.
The United States should be deeply concerned about the close connection between the United Arab Emirates and China, which, the Chinese regime tells us, is “as deep as the ocean and as firm as a rock. Our fellowship has stood the test of time and is reinvigorated day by day. The once solid friendship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States is, however, falling apart. In March, much to the embarrassment of the United States, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, the country’s de facto ruler, refused to take a call with President Joe Biden. A few weeks later, to rub salt on the gaping wounds of the United States, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the first time since 2011, the year the Syrian civil war began. For more than a decade, Assad was considered a enemy of the United States. During their tenure, Presidents Barack Obama and donald trump have been highly critical of the Syrian dictator, and for good reason. The man is a monster. The bucket and China seem to think otherwise, viewing the Syrian in a considerably kinder light.
In truth, China is not only friendly with the UAE and Syria; it is friendly with virtually every country in the Middle East, invest massively in infrastructure, technology and security initiatives. The growing alliance between the Middle East and China comes at the same time as the United States loses its appeal In the region. China is now biggest investor in the Middle East, establishing strategic partnerships with countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi ArabiaTurkey and, of course, the United Arab Emirates, one of the countries in the Middle East. most dominant powers. Earlier in this short article, I mentioned that the UAE is in a position of strategic importance. This fact is not lost on Beijing. The CCP chose the port of Khalifathe largest container operator in the world, as the base of all its operations in the Middle East.
According to Joe HepworthMiddle East director for economic development consultancy OCO Global, countries like the United Arab Emirates should be seen as staging points for Chinese operations in Africa, the world’s fastest growing continent. and the Indian Ocean. Covering over 70% of the earth’s surface, the Indian Ocean is rich in valuable minerals like manganese, nickel, cobalt and copper. Furthermore, the ocean is now a key player in both oil and natural gas Industries. For those who think China’s global grip is weakening, the CCP’s activities in the Middle East, Africa and one of the world’s most important oceans should give them food for thought.
The opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Epoch Times.
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John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist. He covers psychology and social relations, and has a keen interest in social dysfunctions and media manipulation. His work has been published by the New York Post, Sydney Morning Herald, Newsweek, National Review and The Spectator US, among others.
