China's Network Diplomacy and the UAE; Two Trade Tycoons and New Power Waves

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran,Iran.

10.22059/jices.2024.376159.1068

Abstract

Network diplomacy is a new form of diplomacy that, while taking advantage of traditional diplomacy, creates a network of actors with different backgrounds and degrees of power and skills. The People's Republic of China uses a network approach in its foreign policy under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is trying to invite countries and other actors under the umbrella of its diplomacy. One of the important nodes of China's network diplomacy is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The question of this research is why has the importance of China's relations with the UAE increased in China's network diplomacy? The upcoming research hypothesis is The UAE's significant economic position and efficiency across various dimensions and the active presence of it in various sub-networks of China's network diplomacy have promoted the position of the UAE in the network diplomacy applied by China in the Persian Gulf region and in China's global-regional strategy. To examine the research question, the method of gathering information and data is based on the library method, utilizing materials from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources consist of government reports, strategies, and guidelines from China and the UAE, while secondary sources encompass books and published research articles. The research findings highlight that the UAE has enhanced its position within the network by leveraging its economic strength, geo-economic positioning, and active engagement across all sub-networks of the BRI. By effectively leveraging the resources and connections cultivated within this network, the UAE has strengthened its position in the regional hierarchy and strategic dynamics of the Persian Gulf.

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