Some time ago, there was news that Saudi Arabia was going to buy 12 052de destroyers, and at that time everyone was still half-convinced, thinking that Saudi Arabia bought a bunch of this thing to do? Now that the new news is coming, everyone suddenly realized, this is going to lift the old and beautiful table, can you not buy more guys who take advantage of it?
On June 1, the Iranian News Agency quoted Qatar's Jadid News Network as saying that under the coordination of China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman will form a joint fleet to ensure maritime security in the Persian Gulf. The news, which has not been officially confirmed by the four countries, would mean the complete bankruptcy of the decades-long U.S. divide strategy in the Gulf that views Iran as a major threat.
However, there is circumstantial evidence that this is not unfounded. On May 31, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the state news agency that the UAE had withdrawn from the U.S.-led joint maritime security force in the Middle East two months ago. The news marks a critical juncture in the geopolitical landscape of the Gulf, where previously U.S.-led international cooperation on regional maritime security is undergoing a drastic change. And this change is not isolated, China is a key factor in it.
Under China's long-term mediation, the hostile relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were resolved, and in early April this year, Saudi Arabia and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing, and in the presence of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, the two sides signed a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations. This progress has brought far-reaching changes to the situation in the Middle East and the world political pattern, and has also greatly enhanced China's prestige.
The end of the civil war in Yemen, the talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, and Syria's return to the League of Arab States are all follow-up developments to this event. So far, however, China's influence in the Middle East has been limited to economic and diplomatic issues, but if the combined fleet becomes a reality, China will replace the United States as the dominant force in Middle East security. This will bring a strong earthquake to the Middle East.
The Persian Gulf region produces nearly a third of the world's oil, holds more than half of the world's crude oil reserves and a large portion of the world's natural gas reserves, and is vital to the energy supply of most countries in the world. The United States has long stationed large forces in the Gulf under the guise of Iran's threat of oil shipping routes and has formed a 34-nation Middle East Maritime Security Alliance, headquartered in Bahrain, with the goal of "combating terrorism and piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf." ”
In fact, the main force of this force is the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy, the main command is in the hands of the US Central Command, the scope of operations covers not only the entire Middle East, but also the entire Indian Ocean, and can completely control the world trade and energy routes in the Indian Ocean. It not only threatens enemies of the United States such as Iran and Syria, but also deters other Middle Eastern countries, always reminding them not to forget who is the boss. As recently as early May, the United States said it would strengthen its "defensive posture" in the Gulf, citing Iran's increased attacks on commercial shipping.
The Middle East and Indian Ocean routes are also important for China. Most of China's oil imports come from the Middle East, taking the Indian Ocean route, and one of the Belt and Road also passes through the Indian Ocean. Under the situation of Sino-US competition and the deterioration of Sino-Indian relations, China is increasingly dependent on the Belt and Road market, and this year's exports to Belt and Road countries exceed the sum of the United States, Japan and Europe, which is China's greatest strength to resist US suppression. But for this reason, there is no room for failure in the Indian Ocean route.
But there are voices in the United States and India that they want to attack China. Although China fights piracy, the Chinese Navy escorts ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden all year round. But after all, the power is too thin to protect the entire Indian Ocean route. But with Saudi Arabia buying its own warships and forming its own combined maritime fleet, it will greatly share the pressure on the Chinese navy.
Ukraine and the Taiwan Strait have attracted all the strategic forces of the United States. And it turns out that these two places in the United States cannot turn the sky. Then China cannot be polite about the power vacuum left by the United States, and such a good opportunity may be this time. The Middle East is the hinterland of the world's big chess game, according to the way of Go, the United States cannot fight in the corner, the hinterland dragon is tightened by China, and the current situation in the United States is really a bit dangerous.