Jonathan Fulton is an assistant professor of political science in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council.

PART I Overview 1 China's emergence as a Middle East power 2 China and the Middle East: An autobiographical perspective 3 The Middle East in China's global strategies 4 China in Middle Eastern strategic thinking 5 Strategic convergence or strategic rivalry? China and America in the Middle East PART II Relations among regions and states 6 China and the Gulf region: From strangers to partners 7 China and the Levant: Unlike any other world power 8 China and North Africa: History, economic engagement and soft power 9 China- Egypt relations during the BRI era and beyond 10 China and Saudi Arabia: From enmity to strategic hedging 11 Turkey's relations with China and the Belt and Road Initiative 12 China-Iran relations: A low- quality comprehensive strategic partnership 13 Israel and China: Past distance, present cooperation, uncertain future 14 Frozen in time: China-Algeria relations from socialist friendship to pandemic opportunism 15 Sino-Omani relations PART III Trade and development 16 China's evolving energy relations with the Middle East 17 China's approach to post-conflict reconstruction in the Middle East 18 China's nascent soft power projection in the Middle East and North Africa: Cultural, educational, and media initiatives 19 Technological dimensions of China-MENA economic relations PART IV International relations, security, and diplomacy 20 China's partnership diplomacy in the Middle East 21 Chinese private security companies in the Middle East 22 Community- building and social engagement: The overseas Chinese community in the United Arab Emirates 23 The China model and the Middle East 24 A tough job: Chinese diplomats in the Middle East and North Africa 25 China and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict 26 Chinese diplomatic outreach to MENA: Cooperation forums and special envoys Index