China's Strategic Alliances With Muslim Countries: Economic, Political, And Cultural Dimensions

Abstract

This article examines different networks of the political, economic, military and cultural alliance of China with Muslim countries. The contemporary economic rise of China is likely to affect international politics and political economy in many ways. China's growth is multidimensional ranging from economic, military, education, scientific and technological. Economically powerful China will shift the epicenter of political power from the West to the east bringing a civilization change. To maintain its economic, military and scientific growth, China will depend much on the petroleum resources of the oil-rich countries around the world. Secondly, to maintain its strategic and military influence, China will use the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a tool in the region. Because of geographic proximity to China, and changes in international relations after September 11, the Muslim world countries are likely to develop closer relations with China to counterbalance the Western influence on them. The two particular factors namely, geographical proximity between China and many of the oil-rich Muslim countries, and strain relationship between the West and the Muslim world since the end of the Cold War are likely to make China and the Muslim world foster closer economic and strategic relations making the later a direct beneficiary of a rising China. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence including the banner of peace, development, and cooperation make China the most favored nation in the Muslim World.