Time to work more closely with Riyadh

The Middle East, a region of major strategic importance for China, is experiencing the most political and security volatility since World War II. It faces tensions and challenges of partition and dismantling plans, terrorism and sectarian militia, and collapse of states and deterioration of political institutions.

Given these challenges, China must look with Confucius rationale at its role as an important player in the United Nations Security Council to shoulder responsibilities in areas beyond its boundaries that are suffering from the increased US involvement in East Asia and the implications of US attempts to implement its "pivot to Asia" strategy.

By contrast, the Silk Road Economic Belt, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative which also includes the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, sees the Middle East as a necessary geographic bridge in China's official scheme, couched with a historical nostalgia to make China a world pivot at all levels. But this initiative, we believe, will face headwinds and is difficult to attain unless Beijing coherently involves itself in the region's affairs and looks deeply into its relationship with Saudi Arabia which has reliable strategic ties with China.