China Increases Diplomatic Efforts in the Gulf Amidst Geopolitical Turmoil
China is intensifying its diplomatic engagement in the Gulf region, with its Middle East envoy scheduled to visit Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia later this month. This move comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing, where Xi emphasized that the Gulf should not become an arena for great-power rivalry. Despite China being Oman's largest trade partner, this marks the first visit by an Omani head of state since diplomatic ties were established in 1978. A joint statement from the two leaders called for the resumption of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and for Washington and Tehran to return to their June truce. Concurrently, China's energy regulator has instructed oil and gas majors to expand supply under a 10-year plan, citing ongoing geopolitical instability and the nation's vulnerability to high energy and shipping prices.
