Chinese ‘Peacekeeping’ in Middle East, North Africa Expands Beijing’s Security Footprint
China deploys troops and weapons in the region
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) arrives to attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 16, 2017. Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed visiting Saudi King Salman as China continues a charm offensive toward the Middle East, a region where it has long kept a low profile. Lintao Zhang/AFP via Getty Images
China’s growing ties with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) extend to military cooperation, arms sales, missile and nuclear power development, and surveillance technology. Peacekeeping and counterterrorism missions have become an excuse to deploy Chinese troops and weapons to the region.
Antonio Graceffo
Author
Antonio Graceffo, Ph.D., is a China economy analyst who has spent more than 20 years in Asia. Graceffo is a graduate of the Shanghai University of Sport, holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and studied national security at American Military University.
