MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XIII MIDDLE EAST XIII | Page 176

the Soviet Union: Sino-Soviet relations became bitter during the 1960s. Most
countries supported China to become a member of the UN. They also
recognized Taiwan as a part of China. Zhou’s visit led to the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Tunisia as well. During this tour he expressed
China’s support for the Palestinian Arab people and restoration of Palestinian
rights. During the June war in 1967 between the Arab states and Israel, China
once again showed its sympathy and support to the Arab people. Later, in the
1970s, the Sino-Soviet relations became much bitter, and Chinese leaders
were using every opportunity to blame Soviet Union for escalating
confrontation and the whole situation in the Middle East 12 .
In 1971 China took its rightful place in the UN. China’s such a political
change and shift was symbolized by the American President Richard Nixon’s
visit to China in 1972. This historical event was a great victory for China. The
United States, which was refusing to recognize the existence of the PRC for
more than twenty years, had no other choice than to accept the reality. After
admission to the UN Security Council China started its open trade and
diplomatic missions in the Middle East, which was laying groundwork for
Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms a decade later. During the Cold War
period China’s overall analyses and the dynamic of changing relations with
the superpowers were obvious. For instance, in the 1960s for China the main
contradiction was that between the imperialist and socialist camps. Later, in
the 1970s, in the eyes of China both the United Stated and the Soviet Union
could escalate conflicts, confrontation and threats throughout the whole
world in general, and in the Middle East in particular. In this context, China
launched its new and unique policy by supporting oppressed nations and
national liberation movements. In China’s perspective, in order to meet the
challenges and the threat of world domination merely by two superpowers, it
had to foster relations (also diplomatic) with the Third World countries
supporting them to broaden the united front. As a result, China’s foreign
policy in the Middle East shifted towards supporting national liberation
movements and armed struggle. China was gradually giving an equal weight
to both of the superpowers, which were confronting for the world hegemony
and domination. 13
Beijing’s foreign policy and views of the Gulf States also changed with
12
13
Disney, նշվ. աշխ., էջ10:
Ibid.
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