Asia–Middle East Relations and the Global Power Dynamic: Insights from the Israel-Hamas War

Executive Summary

MAIN ARGUMENT

Interactions between Asia and the Middle East are significantly intensifying in the 21st century. However, the reciprocal influence between these regions is still in its early stages and the full nature of these relations remains to be understood. Mega-events in the Middle East, such as the Israel-Hamas war, provide unique occasions to examine the changing involvement of Asian powers in the region. While India’s and Japan’s pragmatic approaches to the Middle East are constrained by domestic factors, China takes a more strategic approach. It effectively leverages regional crises to further its foreign policy goals, tactically using domestic voices as instruments to advance its international agenda.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS

• Relations with the U.S. are the primary factor shaping the positions of China, India, and Japan on Middle East conflicts. However, India’s calculations are notably intricate due to its heightened sensitivity to domestic Muslim resentment.
• China and Japan are increasing their diplomatic involvement in Middle East conflicts to elevate their global political profiles, but they remain unwilling to play an active role. China compensates for this with inflammatory rhetoric.
• China leverages Middle East conflicts to strengthen its leadership position within the global South bloc, consequently testing the limits of its “everyone’s friend” policy in the region. Similarly for India, maintaining a neutral stance and enhancing its influence within the global South are key considerations.

Yoram Evron is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Chinese Studies at the University of Haifa (Israel). His current research focuses on China–Middle East relations and civil-military technology cooperation. His recent publications include the coedited volumes East-West Asia Relations in the 21st Century: From Bilateral to Interregional Relationships (with Rotem Kowner and P.R. Kumaraswamy, 2024) and Israel-Asia Relations in the Twenty-First Century: The Search for Partners in a Changing World (with Rotem Kowner, 2023).

Rotem Kowner is a Professor of History and Japanese Studies at the University of Haifa (Israel). He specializes in the history of modern Japan and its relations with the Middle East. His recent publications include the coedited volume East-West Asia Relations in the 21st Century: From Bilateral to Interregional Relationships (with Yoram Evron and P.R. Kumaraswamy, 2024) and Israel-Asia Relations in the Twenty-First Century: The Search for Partners in a Changing World (with Yoram Evron, 2023).

Oshrit Birvadker is a Senior Research Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and CEO and Founder of Indivade (Israel). Her research interests include India’s foreign and security policy, focusing on its relationships with the Gulf Cooperation Council, India-Israel relations, and the Indo-Pacific region.