The Fundamental and Applied Studies of the Islamic World

Assessing how China utilizes the concept of "great power responsibility" to expand its influence in the Middle East

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Reza Ekhtiari Amiri 1
Sarbast Muhammad 2
Mokhtar Salehi 3

1 Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of International Relations, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

10.22034/fasiw.2026.555494.1534
Abstract
China is one of the world's great powers, a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power, one of the world's great military powers, and in the economic sphere, it controls about 15% of the world's economy after the United States. In the last two decades, following stunning economic growth, China has been trying to redefine the world order. Beijing is trying to improve its position in the global system in competition with the United States with a different logic from the West, in the light of partnership agreements with different countries, and presenting a different concept of "great power responsibility". The Middle East region has an important place in China's achievement of its strategic goal. The question of this research is how China has expanded its influence in this region in competition with the United States by taking advantage of the concept of great power responsibility towards the Middle East region. The findings of this study, which were obtained by utilizing the conceptualization of great power responsibility from China's perspective as well as the descriptive-analytical research method, indicate that China, while seeking stability in the Middle East, is trying to secure its economic and political interests by respecting the sovereignty of the countries in the region and "peaceful development" and expand its influence in this region in competition with the United States.

Keywords

China
Middle East
Great Power Responsibility
Partnership Agreement
The Fundamental and Applied Studies of the Islamic World

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 June 2026

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