BEIJING
The growing geostrategic rivalry between the world's two largest economies is making the Middle East, which holds a significant share of global energy resources, a new arena for their struggle for influence.
As Washington perceives Beijing as "the biggest long-term threat" to its security and shifts its policy focus to the Asia-Pacific, China is vying for increased influence in the Middle East, where the US has played a key role shaping regional developments for many years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Saudi Arabia, which kicked off Wednesday, is seen as a vital diplomatic contact that could signal the start of a new era.
As the Riyadh visit confirms China's developing political and economic relations with Saudi Arabia, Xi will have the opportunity to strengthen Beijing's ties in the region as he participates in the first China-Arab States Summit and China-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit.
Upon his arrival in Riyadh, Xi stressed that in the 32 years since they established diplomatic ties, the two countries have enhanced strategic mutual trust and enjoyed fruitful practical cooperation in various fields.
"In 2016, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership," a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement reported Xi as saying.
"President Xi Jinping noted that he has since then worked with King Salman (bin Abdulaziz) to steer bilateral relations on a path of significant progress, which has not only delivered benefits to both peoples but also effectively promoted regional peace, stability, prosperity and development," it added.
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry, for its part, said Xi's visit was taking place upon the invitation of King Salman and that the official visit and summits aimed at developing all manner of relations and addressing ways to improve development and cooperation opportunities.
Multilateral dialogue, which began with the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in 2004, is expected to expand into new dimensions with the two summits to be held for the first time this year.
Xi last visited Riyadh in 2016 and received Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Beijing in 2019.
US-Saudi oil tensions
Xi's visit came amid simmering tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia as Washington shifts its policy focus to the Asia-Pacific from the Middle East.
US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021 and plans to focus US foreign policy attention toward the Asia-Pacific region with the "Pivot to Asia," has raised questions on the future of the country's influence in the Middle East.
While relations with Washington were already turbulent due to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's human rights record, the controversy surrounding the oil production cuts Riyadh championed after the Russia-Ukraine war started in February has taken tensions to a new level.
Biden's visit to Riyadh at the beginning of the year also failed to yield the expected positive results for bilateral relations, with both countries falling into dispute on an OPEC+ decision on Nov. 5 led by Saudi Arabia and Russia to reduce oil production.
Washington's pressure for the bloc, which includes members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major oil producers, to ramp up output and thus reduce prices amid inflationary pressures stemming from the war in Ukraine did not bear fruit.
Biden expressed his willingness to "re-evaluate" his country's relationship with Saudi Arabia following the move seen by Washington as siding with Russia.
The US Congress also called for a year-long suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia in response to the step.
Can China fill the power vacuum?
It is uncertain whether China can fill the economic and political power vacuum left by the US decision and regional actors' open resistance to Washington's policies.
Beijing, which has in recent years carried out more than 200 energy and infrastructure projects in the region as part of its ongoing Belt and Road Initiative, increased its interest in the region's vast natural resources.
China meets 70% of its energy needs through imports and is the most important buyer of Middle Eastern oil.
Last year, China alone bought 27% of the crude exported by Saudi Arabia, the region's largest producer.
Moreover, China and Saudi Arabia are negotiating for oil trade payments to be made in yuan. Implementation of this could undermine the role of the US dollar as the main currency used in energy deals.
China, which signed a deal worth $60 billion last month for the purchase of liquefied natural gas from Qatar, is also increasing its energy cooperation with the UAE and other Gulf countries.
In a report published ahead of Xi's official visit to Riyadh, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the visit had nothing to do with geopolitical power struggles, rather focusing on development for both sides.
China's strategic focus on the region was on trade and economic cooperation, said the report, titled "China-Arab Cooperation in the new era," adding that Beijing does not believe a "power vacuum" exists in the Middle East.
It asserted that China's aim was to play a constructive role in the Middle East, support countries to solve their security issues through dialogue and consultation, and help local people determine their own direction in development, it added.
Arms deals
Despite China's stance not engaging in the region's political issues, Beijing has shown that it seeks to step up its cooperation and arms sales with countries in the region on defense industry and technology.
According to Chinese media reports, Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to purchase arms systems worth $4 billion from China, including drones, anti-ship missiles, and anti-drone weapons and ground systems at the Juhay Air Show last month.
Riyadh had previously purchased the Chinese CH-4 armed drone and used it in operations against Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen.
With the agreement signed between the two countries in 2017, manufacturing facilities were built in Saudi Arabia to produce the platforms, with joint production kicking off this year.
Riyadh also reportedly attempted to purchase YJ-21 hypersonic missiles from China. However, since Beijing is a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime, it cannot legally export missiles with a range exceeding 300 kilometers (about 186 miles).
So, the direct sale of the high-tech YJ-21, which can hit a target up to 1,000 km away, appears to be off the table.
China first sold intermediate-range Dongfeng-3 ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia in 1986 and it was alleged that Dongfeng-21 missiles were sold secretly in 2007. US intelligence sources have claimed that last year, China also helped Saudi Arabia develop its own missile technology.
Beijing's next-generation FC-21 warplanes were also showcased at the World Defense Show, held for the first time this year in Saudi Arabia.
As Gulf nations continue to expand their defense budgets, they are also expected to seek to purchase fifth-generation warplanes, comparable to the F-35 fighter jets developed by multiple countries including the US.
Though Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries are still heavily dependent on US technology for their large-scale weapon systems, they are now showing a greater level of interest in China's high-tech arms.
