Xi Warns In opposition to Nice-Energy Rivalry in Center East as China Deepens Gulf Diplomacy
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that the Middle East and Gulf region must not become an arena for great-power rivalry, as Beijing seeks a greater diplomatic role in efforts to contain the US-Israeli war on Iran and restore regional stability.
Speaking during a meeting with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in Beijing on Monday, Xi said lasting peace required collective efforts and respect for regional stability.
“The Middle East Gulf region should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict,” Xi said, according to China’s Foreign Ministry. He added that peace and stability required all parties to work together to protect the region.
Xi said China remained committed to ending the conflict and was willing to contribute diplomatic solutions to the region’s security challenges. Beijing also expressed readiness to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab countries, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to support de-escalation and longer-term stability.
Stay ahead of the geopolitical week.
MD Briefing delivers expert analysis across five global fronts — the Indo-Pacific, energy, geoeconomics, European security, and the Middle East — every Monday morning. Free.
China’s diplomatic engagement comes as the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, increased energy costs and raised concerns about the wider economic consequences of regional instability.
Last week, China’s Foreign Ministry announced that Beijing would soon dispatch special envoys to the Middle East to encourage diplomatic engagement and reduce tensions.
China expands its diplomatic role in the Gulf
China has traditionally maintained a relatively low-profile diplomatic presence in Middle Eastern security affairs. However, the escalating conflict has increased the importance of Beijing’s engagement with regional governments, particularly given its substantial energy and commercial interests.
The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz presents a significant challenge for China, which relies heavily on energy imports from the Gulf. Prolonged instability also threatens international shipping routes and the broader economic relationships connecting China with Arab states.
Xi’s remarks reflect Beijing’s preference for diplomatic engagement, regional cooperation and respect for state sovereignty rather than allowing the Middle East to become an extension of strategic competition between major powers.
Oman seeks closer economic ties with Beijing
Sultan Haitham’s two-day visit to China, which began on Sunday, marks the first visit by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1978.
During his meeting with Xi, Haitham welcomed China’s positions on regional issues and emphasised the relationship between economic development and political stability.
He said prosperity required an environment based on security, peace, respect for national sovereignty and international law, with disputes resolved through peaceful means.
The Omani leader also expressed interest in negotiating a preferential bilateral trade and investment agreement with China, arguing that it could create new opportunities for commercial cooperation.
China is Oman’s largest trading partner, with economic and tourism links strengthened by direct flights between Beijing and Muscat introduced in November 2025.
Oman exports crude oil and other energy products to China and is also seeking to expand cooperation in renewable energy supply chains and digital commerce. Haitham further highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between financial and investment institutions.
Strategic implications for China and the Gulf
The meeting highlights the growing importance of China’s economic and diplomatic relationships with Gulf countries as regional instability threatens energy security and international trade.
For Beijing, maintaining stable relations with Arab governments is particularly important because its commercial interests extend beyond energy imports to infrastructure, investment, technology and transport connectivity.
Oman also occupies an important diplomatic position in the region, having maintained channels of communication with competing regional and international actors. Closer cooperation with Beijing could strengthen its economic partnerships while supporting its diplomatic engagement.
However, China’s ability to translate diplomatic statements into concrete de-escalation remains uncertain. Its expanding engagement does not necessarily mean Beijing is prepared to assume a direct security role or challenge the existing regional security architecture.
The immediate test will be whether China can use its relationships with Gulf governments and regional actors to support meaningful diplomatic progress. For now, Xi’s warning signals Beijing’s intention to resist further geopolitical fragmentation while protecting its growing economic interests in the Middle East.
With information from Reuters.
Source: moderndiplomacy.eu
