US-China relations: Middle East countries under pressure to take sides against Beijing: former Chinese envoy
- Former Chinese ambassador to the region says UAE-Israel agreement part of bigger American bid to isolate Iran
- US also expected to try to exclude Chinese players from reconstruction of Iraq and Syria, he says
US allies in the Middle East are coming under growing pressure to pick sides against China, posing a challenge to Beijing’s plans for a bigger economic foothold in the region, according to a former senior Chinese diplomat.
Last week, the UAE became the third Arab state after Egypt and Jordan to recognise Israel, in return for Israel agreeing to suspend a controversial annexation plan of the occupied West Bank.
Hua, who was also China’s ambassador to the UAE from 1995-1998, said the deal was only one step in the US’ wider Middle East plan.
“What would come next could be the US continues to broker peace deals between Arab states and Israel so as to downplay the Palestine issue but to unite Arab states to suppress Iran,” Hua said.
02:35
Belt and Road Initiative explained
He said China welcomed last week’s agreement, saying it was in China’s interests to have a stable and peaceful region.