Evolution of the Chinese "Weapon's Diplomacy," in the Middle East 1950-2009: A comparative study of China's military sales for each of the Arab countries, Iran and Israel
Khier S. Diabat, Department of Political Science,Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Abstract
In the last few decades China’s emergence as a major arms supplier has become the focus of considerable global attention. Since the early 1980s China has emerged as a major exporter of conventional weapons in the international arms market, trying to become a permanent competitor with other great powers throughout the world; e.g. the USA, USSR (now modern Russia) and other European countries in the Middle East. This study documents China’s principal arms-sales relationships with the key participants of the Middle East (Arab States, Iran and Israel) thr era 1950- 2009. In summary, it also analyses the motivations of suppliers & purchasers; compares the changes of these arms sales through four key time periods (1950-1977, 1978-1990, 1991-2001, 2002-2009); identifies possible constraints on China's arms sales & finally assesses whether China’s arm sales pose a possible threat against other parties.