EU’S MIDDLE EAST POLICY:ITS ADJUSTMENT AND PREDICAMENT AMID PERSISTENT CHAOS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The European Union(EU)shapes its policy towards the Middle East under the twin impacts of the United States’strategic orientation in the Middle East and the dynamics in the region.However,a series of unilateral actions taken by the Trump administration,including declaring to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA),resuming and keeping increasing sanctions on Iran.

MIDDLE EAST IN 2016: OPPORTUNITIES AMONG DANGERS

The Middle East situation in 2016has been an extension of that since the major changes in the region featuring transformation and upheavals interwoven with each other.On the one hand,the turbulence has been deepening,spreading and overflowing,highlighted by the diplomatic relationship breakoff crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran,the deepening of gaming between the US and Russia,the attempted coup in Turkey,

Cooperation Between China and Saudi Arabia within the Framework of the Belt and Road

Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to Riyadh to attend the first China-Arab States Summit and the first ChinaGulf Cooperation Council(GCC)Summit and pay a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from December 7 to 10,2022.The ThreeRing Summits constitute China’s largest and highest-profile diplomatic initiative for the Arab world since the founding of the PRC.

Ideological Transition of the Afghan Taliban

The Afghan Taliban(hereafter termed the Taliban) has returned to power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops from the country. However, acquiring political legitimacy at home and winning international recognition abroad remain daunting tasks for the Taliban, which will largely hinge on the group's transition away from its previously radical ideology. The ideology of the Taliban can be categorized as a brand of traditional Islamism blended with unique Afghan characteristics, which incorporates a variety of elements ranging from Deobandism, Pashtun rural and tribal cultures, Wahhabism, and Salafism to political Islam and carries a combination of many attributes. For instance, it emphasizes religious legitimacy stemming from the outward display of piety but overlooks the importance of political legitimacy. Moreover, it pursues Pashtun supremacy and practices sectarianism. However, driven by the needs of successive resistance and governance, the ideology of the Taliban has been undergoing a transition in recent years. Notably, pragmatism has begun to emerge, along with pluralism and religious inclusion;the emphasis on outward manifestations of piety has been reduced;efforts have been made to seek integration into the international system;and there appears to be a willingness to follow international norms. Despite all that, the core of the Taliban ideology remains intact, which still falls within the ambit of Islamism, as evidenced by the theocratic regime it has established in Afghanistan and its governing philosophies that advocate mullahs running the country. The Taliban has been shifting its ideology toward modern Islamism, which lacks successful governance practice. As an armed religious group, the Taliban faces tough challenges in governing the country, which include, but are not limited to, conservative mindsets and skill deficits. To tackle the challenges effectively, the Taliban should continue to focus on political legitimacy and advance the transition of its ideology.

Maintaining Cooperation within Competition:The Inevitable Path of China’s Energy Cooperation in the Middle East

The multi-polarization of political situation creates beneficial conditions for Chinese petroleum corporations to enter foreign market of prospecting and drilling of oil and natural gas resources.Chinese petroleum corporations should adopt“Outward Expansion”strategy and directly participate in international gaming over the cooperative development and drilling of overseas oil and natural gas resources.On this aspect,the government should not only enhance its macro strategic guidance to Chinese petroleum corporations,but also offer more support by means of preferential policies so as to provide more encouragement to these corporations.Furthermore,the government should strengthen its toughness and intensity on its extension of energy diplomacy.In order to make some achievement in the reform and evolution of geopolitical pattern concerning energy of the world,China should maximize its national interest on energy strategy through“cooperation against the background of competition,”so as to obtain a guarantee on the stable and safe long-term supply of overseas energy for sustained development and smooth rise of China.The model of“Cooperation against the Background of Competition”not only fits for the domestic conditions of China,but also suits the trend of development on the energy market of the world.

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.

Understanding and Respect:On Establishing a Chinese Discourse System for Middle East Studies

In the process of establishing a Chinese discourse system for Middle East studies,the following fundamental factors should be taken into consideration.The guideline should be the mainstream of Chinese humanistic philosophy.Unlike the commanding and thrusting discourse systems of the US and some European countries,the Chinese discourse system highlights equality in communication It is likely to be more popular with the Islamic countries in the Middle East and therefore receive serious concern and should be cherished by the Chinese academicians of Middle East studies.We should pay attention to all the documents and materials from the research topic,attaching great importance to referencing documents and materials from abroad as well as the established terminology and translated terms of the Chinese Muslims,which are different from those in Protestant Christianity or Catholic Christianity.We should also follow the current spirit in the process of establishing a Chinese discourse system for Middle East studies.In the background of economic globalization,the themes of the times emphasize peace and development and the trend of democratization of international relations.In analyzing the contradiction between the US and the Islamic world,we should consider their interpretation of the present spirit and their disparities because it relates to their core values.The study of how to establish a discourse system for Middle East studies in China,a socialist country,is actually one part of the study of the essence of socialism with“Chinese characteristics.”

Formal or Informal? The Dispute Settlement Mechanisms of China's Free Trade Agreements

The dispute settlement mechanism(DSM) has long been the focus of attention because of its significant role in the institutional construction of China's free trade agreements(FTAs). Thus, this paper is to make an analysis of the DSMs of China's established FTAs from a legal perspective of international regime study, which leads to the finding of a co-existence mode of formal and informal DSMs in China's FTAs. This paper also discusses the motivation and significance of such a choice.

The Conflict between US and Iran in Designing the Persian Gulf Security Order

Behind the conflict between the US and Iran currently on the Iranian nuclear issue,there is actually a deeper conflict between the two nations on designing the Persian Gulf security order.Since the end of the Cold War,the US has been trying to establish the Persian Gulf security order following its idea of the new world order,which stresses that the security order in this region should be based on the US military existence and the democratic reformation in the local nations.However,with its strength and influence increased after the Iraq War,Iran is also trying to establish an Islamic Persian Gulf security order to resist the US influence in the Gulf region.As the two security orders designed by the US and Iran are much different in structure,concept and character,the conflict between them is probably going to become more fury in the future.