While many Middle Eastern nations have responded positively to China's "Belt & Road" narrative, some have not. A narrative that weds the peace and development goals of the initiative with those of Middle Eastern nations is thus badly needed, Li Weijian of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies argues.
Some war-ravaged nations see the initiative as merely a means to economic aid. Others accuse China of seeking access to energy and trade and not shouldering responsibility for regional security. And many officials and scholars in the region view the initiative as distant from the problems at hand, Li argues in an opinion piece for Shanghai-based news site The Paper.
Partly to blame is that China has lagged behind in the Middle East section of the B&R, according to Li, who says the 'narrative' should reflect and complement China’s overall foreign strategies and diplomatic thinking and policies rather than replacing them.
Given governance is a key concern for many Middle Eastern nations, Li argues governance should be a key aspect of the diplomatic narrative China creates in the region. The importance of “development” to stabilize the region should be underlined to break away from the Western narrative of distance between security and development, the researcher suggests.
Lastly, the B&R Initiative should be framed as a means for China to engage with countries in the region. This means increasing knowledge of the project and cultivating enthusiasm without building up expectations. It is important for China not to be viewed as acting unilaterally, he concludes.