Impact of Green Buildings( LEED and Estidama) in the Middle East and China

0 Introduction The growing number of accredited green buildings reflects the development and adoption of various green building rating systems in our building construction industry globally and within the Middle East over the past 5 years.While the US based LEED system,Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,has been widely utilized as an international

Four Characteristics of Current Political Situation in the Middle East

In the second decade of the 21st century,turmoil in the Middle East is doomed to be one of the chief events of international politics.The basic characteristics of the Middle East politics has changed,due to complicated reasons related to political turbulence,the change of energy structure,the adjustments in the policies of the leading world powers,and other factors.These changes could well be a beginning of the long-term trend,and eventually change the history of the Middle East politics.

The Disintegration of the Middle East Retreating to the ＂Weak Sovereignty Era＂

The Arab Spring in the spring of 2011 soon brought the Middle East into an abyss of chaos,instability,terrorism and civil war.Over the past six years,the Syria conflict in some areas tended to cool down.President Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Putin on building a new"conflict relegation zone"on July 7,2017.After three years of

China’s Solutions to Security Governance in the Middle East:An Assessment

Over several decades,many intricate security issues in the Middle East,such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,the Iranian nuclear crisis,the Syrian conflict and terrorism,etc.,have greatly influenced regional and global security and stability.The international community has taken many measures to solve these problems,but they did not achieve the expected results.With the rise of China,the international community’s expectation for China to participate in global governance has also increased.Therefore,in recent years,China has taken an increasingly proactive stance on the Middle East security governance,transforming from a detached bystander into an active participant and initiator.To realize and maintain security and stability in the Middle East,China has put forward its own solutions to the security issues based on the principles of respecting sovereignty,non-interference of the internal affairs of other countries,objectivity and impartiality,comprehensive and fundamental governance,peaceful resolution,and multilateral participation.Although China’s solutions are not perfect yet and are faced with many criticisms,their prospects are optimistic.They have provided new ideas for the Middle East security governance.

The Transformation of the International System and China’s Positive Diplomacy in the Middle East

The international system is at a historical moment of renewal.As the unipolar order declines,various forces are rising,among which China has already become an important force in constructing a new world order.Quiet but revolutionary changes have occurred in China's diplomatic philosophy and practices as the country becomes more deeply ingrained into the international system.Under the background of great changes,the political situation in the Middle East has also quietly changed..With the weakening of the impact of external forces,many new energies in this region are coming to life.The future development of relations between European and United States powers,and their policy changes will bring a far-reaching impact on the political situation in the Middle East.China's diplomacy in the Middle East will become more active and aggressive.Meanwhile,China will concentrate more on the multi-lateral cooperation and its co-ordination with Europe and United States.

The Relations between Nationalism and Islam in the Middle East

This paper argues that the conflicts between modernity and tradition in the process of modernization in the Middle East are rooted in the complicated relations between the two different ideologies,i.e.,nationalism and Islam.The author probes the complicated relations between nationalism and Islam from three aspects:the impact of the Middle Eastern nationalism on Islam,the responses of Islamic fundamentalism to nationalism and the influence and prospects of the conflicts between Islam and nationalism in the political development in the Middle East.

Sino-American Relations in the Middle East: Towards A Complementary Partnership?

China pursues geo-economic interests of trade,investment and energy,while the US explores geo-political interests of maintaining regional leadership,launching anti-terrorism campaigns,and defending allies in the Middle East.Notwithstanding all this,the two sides share compatible and complementary interests in the Middle East security governance and conflict de-escalation,which forges structural dynamics for Beijing and Washington to seek common ground while shelving differences.By drawing on detailed analysis of China and the US’s interaction in three cases,including coping with the ISIS threat,addressing the Iran nuclear crisis and mediating the Israel-Palestine conflict,this article argues that driven by pragmatism,it is possible for China and the US to build a complementary partnership in the Middle East,especially in dealing with security challenges in conflict zones,to maximise their respective interests and to alleviate the impact of Sino-US geopolitical rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.The compatible policy orientations,the intensifying Middle East Cold War in the aftermath of the Arab Spring,and the interdependent nature of Sino-US interests in the Middle East make it vital for China and the US to build a complementary partnership,although they may face various hurdles in its implementation.

Comment on the Solutions to the Middle East Security Issues and China’s Governance Style

The Middle East is the most turbulent region in the world.There have been incessant conflicts in this region over several decades,the most representative of which include the IsraeliPalestinian conflicts,the Iranian nuclear crisis,the Syrian issue and terrorism,etc.In order to solve these security issues,the international community has implemented various solutions,most of which did not result in the expected results.Therefore,new solutions to the Middle East security issues are needed.With the rise of China,China has put forward a solution with Chinese characteristics.China’s new framework for security governance in the Middle East has distinct Chinese characteristics:solving security problems from the perspective of economic problems,the principle of gradualism in the Middle East security governance scheme,Coordination mechanism between great powers,and respecting the recommendations of major countries and state parties in the Middle East.The China’s Solutions will provide new ideas for the Middle East security governance.

Five Keys to the Middle East Issue:A Review of Middle East Politics and Society

After World War II,the Middle East,due to its irreplaceable geographic value and oil resources,has been an arena for international politics and a barometer of international relations.Its long and sophisticated history and unique religions,nationalities,sects and tribes also add to its mystery.However,introductory books or articles on the Middle East often turn out to be disappointing in the eyes of the readers.Many experts and scholars then try to sort out the nature of the Middle East issues by highlighting its vital points as Dr.Lian Wang does in his new book Middle East Politics and Society.This article reviews the basic structure and characteristics of the book and strives to interpret the five key concepts of contemporary Middle East studies summarized by the author in the hope of furthering the research in this respect.

China and the Middle East Economic Governance in New Era

The Middle East Region has been suffering serious economic difficulties and the governance deficit for a long time,which demands a global response.In this new era,China has become an important actor in the progression of the Middle East economic governance;the contents of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance include energy,trade,investment,finance and developmental governance.Participation of China to the Middle East economic governance has improved economic climate and the terms of trade for the Middle Eastern countries,and enhanced their sustainable development ability,and also responded to the criticism from the Western countries accusing China of being a free rider with real actions.Compared to the Western countries,China’s participation to the Middle East economic governance exhibits its own characteristics in governance goals,ability,path,regime,contents and governance styles.“The Belt and Road”Initiative marks China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance enters new level.The depth and result of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance are affected by various factors.

On Political Unrest in the Middle East and China’s Diplomacy

From crisis management to the overall planning,China’s response to the unrest in the Middle East has achieved great success.Today China must understand the influence of the unrest in the Middle East by taking the overall international and domestic situations into consideration,namely,understanding its influence as’’tests in the external environment’’and the changes it causes to the international setting of China;China must review its experiences of coping with the unrest in the Middle East and correct any flaws in its present policies;China must work out scientific,mid-and long-term strategies for the Middle East and corresponding measures.In particular,she should better its understanding of the strategic position of the Middle East and enhance her participation in the Middle Eastern affairs while adhering to its traditional diplomatic principles.

China’s Energy Strategy and Primary Role of the Middle East in This Strategy

In face of challenges to its energy security,China has been making adjustments in its energy policy and energy development strategy since mid-1990s,and implementing a strategy for overseas energy development.Compared with Central Asia,Latin America,Southeast Asia and West Africa,the Middle East is still the major source for China’s overseas energy cooperation and development.To avoid over-dependence on the energy resources in the Middle East,China seeks more overseas energy sources and transportation channels other than those in or connected to the Middle East.However,the primary role of the Middle East in China’s overall strategy for overseas energy development is still irreplaceable by that of any other region,at least for the near future.This situation will surely produce an increasingly important impact on China’s Middle East policy,moving China to take a more active posture in the political and economic arena of the region.It can even be expected that China to maintain its stable and friendly relations with Middle East countries,will,more likely than ever,act as a diplomatic mediator in trying to resolve certain longstanding conflicts in the region.

Doing More in The Middle East

China becomes increasingly involved in Middle East issue The international community once described China’s Middle East diplomatic policy using phrases such as"modera-tion,""detachment,"or"lack of imagination."But as its status as a global player grows,China is no longer merely a distant observer of events in the volatile region.

A Securitization-Perspective Analysis of Water Disputes in the Jordan River Basin

Severe water shortage and uneven water distribution plague countries in the Middle East, especially the Jordan River Basin. As a strategic resource with competitive political nature, water resources are closely related to national security, and become the core resource arena that countries along the river basin compete for. This study argues that under the combined effect of the natural factors of water shortage, the geographical factors of uneven distribution of rivers across boundaries, and the subjective factors of water politics (the unfair setting of rules for water allocation), water disputes in the Middle East have become obstacles to regional peace, and the serious uneven distribution of water is the root cause of regional water disputes. Neither the historical water conflicts nor the existing water cooperation framework has solved the problem of balanced water distribution, which makes the people in basin countries directly face the crisis of survival rights and national security, and lays the fuse for the outbreak of regional water disputes and even future water wars. This study proposes the concept and analytical framework of “water securitization” based on securitization theory, and applies it to the Jordan River Basin, to analyze the reasons for the uneven distribution of water resources in the Middle East. The power-dominant state with asymmetric power in the river basin obtains the status of water hegemony by securitizing water, realizing the self-interested distribution of water resources, whichleads to the uneven distribution of water resources, and ultimately leads to the outbreak of conflicts and disputes. Specifically, it mainly adopts three mechanisms of discursive securitization, operational securitization, and institutional securitization. Looking to the future, it is difficult to successfully resolve water disputes in the Middle East in the short term, and a “de-securitization” approach is particularly important in resolving water disputes and easing regional security tension. Only by adopting a multi-field joint strategy can it provide the possibility to effectively resolve water disputes in the Jordan River Basin.

The New Middle East Policy of the Obama Administration

Due to its decisive role among domestic and foreign policies of the US,the new Middle East policy of the Obama Administration has received extensive attention.So far,the new policy has not finally taken shape.Judging from Obama’s campaign speeches and the viewpoints of senior officials of the Obama administration,we may notice the following characteristics of the new policy:highlighting multilateral cooperation;emphasizing contact and dialogue;advancing simultaneously for a comprehensive resolution.These characteristics can also be seen in withdrawing troops from Iraq,deploying more troops in Afghanistan and the US efforts for,promoting the Middle East peace process and resolving the nuclear issue in Iran.The Obama Administration attaches great importance to the Middle East issue and has a strong desire to resolve it first.However,the new policy has palpable flaws and defects.The Middle East issue will be a huge test for the Obama administration.

The New Development of China-Middle East Relations since the Arab Upheaval

Since the upheaval,the Middle East region has been suffering from persisting conflicts and rising tension.China is facing a changing situation in the Middle East,along with increasingly mutual strategic reliance between China and the Middle East countries:on the one hand,the presence of Chinese interests in the Middle East is continuing to expand;on the other hand,since the 9/11,Middle Eastern countries have been generally in discord with the United States.As a result,Israel,Saudi Arabia and other countries are becoming increasingly willing to enhance relations with China,and significantly level up their expectation towards China accordingly.Within this context,China has actively promoted relations with Middle Eastern countries,with an image of a responsible,positive,and fair-minded actor in Middle East affairs.Accordingly,China’s interaction with the Middle East countries has stepped into a new stage.

中国对中东国家的伙伴外交

Since the end of the Cold War,China has gradually formulated a global and multi-dimensional partnership network.China’s partnership diplomacy in the Middle East is a crucial component of said network,including partners in the Persian Gulf,the Eastern Mediterranean Sea,the Red Sea and the Maghreb region.Based on their level of importance to China,these countries can be roughly divided into four categories,namely"pivot states,""node states,""key states"and"stronghold states,"which constitute the portfolio of China’s partnership diplomacy in the region.In prospect,China’s partnership diplomacy will be evolving from bilateral cooperation to multilateral consultation,from partnership with sovereign states to that with international organizations,and from state-based partnership to issue-oriented partnership.

A Comparative Analysis of US-Russia Middle East Energy Strategy

“Those who owns the Middle East oil,will have the world.”The world’s major energy consumers-the United States and Russia holding the“energy card”meet in the Middle East.There are consensus and also contradictions in their energy strategies and interests.Based on the comparison between the energy strategy and policy of the two countries,this article aims to provide their experience in the Middle East for China to think and learn.

The impact of China’s Consistent Stance on the Palestinian issue on the Embodiment of international pluralism

This study examined the impact of China’s firm position on the Palestinian issue on the embodiment of international multilateralism and strived to embody international multilateralism.And to clarify this effect,it is necessary first to highlight the depth of Chinese-Arab relations and common concern,such as China’s consistent position on the Palestinian issue and its quest to embody international pluralism in order to find appropriate solutions to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law,then to focus on China’s consistent foreign policy towards the Middle East to promote stability and development with the success of the BRI in the region,and thirdly,to shed light on China’s stance on strengthening and materialising international cooperation to find appropriate solutions for the Palestinian issue,and finally,to focus attention on China’s diplomatic efforts to solve the Palestinian issue’a political solution based on international cooperation to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy’.This study relies on the historical method by tracing the historical sequence of events to reach the results that serve the subject of the study,as well as the descriptive analytical method,which is used to analyse information and events related to the subject of the study.The study concluded that the impact of China’s firm position on the Palestinian issue on the embodiment of international multilateralism is effective.Moreover,this study is a forward-looking survey of other studies aimed at anticipating the continuing impact of China’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue on the embodiment of international multilateralism,as it demonstrates seriousness and perseverance under the theme of’respect,mutual benefit and common destiny’in light of the challenges witnessed in the world today.

The Chinese Perspective on Conflict Resolution in the Gulf

The Middle East has been in a state of turbulence,poor governance and inadequate development for a long time.The Gulf remains stable,although it is caught up in various regional disputes.It is a major task for both the international community and regional countries to consider how to effectively resolve these conflicts,promote regional governance and eventually achieve the long-term stability of the Gulf and the entire Middle East.China,with its commitment to peace,development and cooperation,is cautiously participating in reforming the Middle Eastern governance system.It is devoted to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future of humankind,albeit in a prudent manner;it highlights being an important promoter of peace,stability and industrialisation in the Middle East;it also engages in peace talks and conflict resolution in an incremental manner.China is putting the concept of peaceful development and mutual benefits into practice and helps the Middle East to embark on a new road of comprehensive reform,but so far it lacks specific scenarios and concrete roadmaps for peace in the Gulf.It also stresses interconnectivity and amity via interaction,but the Gulf conflict resolutions still have a long way to go.This paper explores Chinese principles in resolving regional conflicts from the aspects of history,politics,development,security and civilisation,and forecasts what hurdles China may face on the road to playing a bigger role.