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Introduced in 2013, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has had a significant impact within Asia and across other regions. This book provides empirical case studies examining the relations between China and the states in specific regional groupings, including South-East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and Central/Eastern Europe. At the theoretical level, Buzan and Waever's work on regional security complexes is used to develop a framework for analyzing the current impact of the BRI and its potential future effects within these regions, while the case studies explore the extent to which different International Relations and International Political Economy theories explain change in these relationships as the regional security environment shifts. The contributors address questions as diverse as the domestic political and economic drivers impacting the level of BRI cooperation; the effects of cooperation with the US; as well as the historical political and economic risk considerations for China in pursuing BRI cooperation; and the motivations of regional responses to the BRI and rivalries and variations in those responses.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- List of tables -- 1. Introduction -- Key themes -- Structure of the book -- Notes -- 2. China and international order -- Introduction -- Neoclassical realism and China's international political history -- China and the liberal international order -- Intervening variable: elite perceptions of systemic pressures -- Intervening variable: domestic political pressures -- The GCC in the PRC's foreign policy calculations -- Conclusion -- Notes -- 3. The Gulf monarchies: Domestic, regional, and international security dynamics -- Introduction -- Neoclassical realism and the GCC -- The Gulf as a sub-system -- Systemic pressures -- Internal security concerns -- The role of China -- Conclusion -- Notes -- 4. China's relations with Saudi Arabia -- Introduction -- Saudi Arabia: systemic pressures -- Saudi Arabia: domestic pressures -- Pre-People's Republic of China historical legacy -- Indifference (1949-1965) -- Hostility (1966-1971) -- Transition (1971-1990) -- Interdependence (1990-2012) -- Belt and Road Initiative cooperation (2013-present) -- Conclusion: explaining change in Sino-Saudi relations -- Notes -- 5. China's relations with Oman -- Introduction -- Oman: international political pressures -- Oman: domestic political pressures -- China-Oman relations: the pre-PRC historical legacy -- Indifference (1949-1965) -- Hostility (1966-1971) -- Transition (1971-1990) -- Interdependence (1990-2012) -- Belt and Road Initiative cooperation (2013-present) -- Conclusion: explaining change in Sino-Omani relations -- Notes -- 6. China's relations with the United Arab Emirates -- Introduction -- United Arab Emirates: international pressures -- United Arab Emirates: domestic political pressures -- Pre-PRC historical legacy -- Indifference (1949-1965) -- Hostility (1966-1971)

Gulf stability is coming to play a larger role in the foreign policy calculus of many states, but the evolving role of Asian powers is largely under-represented in the International Relations literature. This volume addresses this gap with a set of empirically rich, theory driven case studies written by academics from or based in the countries in question. The underlying assumption is not that Asian powers have already become important security actors in the Gulf, but rather that they perceive the Gulf as a region of increasing strategic relevance. How will leaders in these countries adjust to an evolving regional framework? Will there be coordinated efforts to establish an Asian-centered approach to Gulf stability, or will Asian rivalries make the region a theater of competition? Will US–China tensions force alignment choices among Asian powers? Will Asian states balance, bandwagon, hedge, or adopt some other approach to their Gulf relationships? These questions become even more important as the western boundaries of Asia increasingly come to incorporate the Middle East.

Gulf stability is coming to play a larger role in the foreign policy calculus of many states, but the evolving role of Asian powers is largely under-represented in the International Relations literature. This volume addresses this gap with a set of empirically rich, theory driven case studies written by academics from or based in the countries in question. The underlying assumption is not that Asian powers have already become important security actors in the Gulf, but rather that they perceive the Gulf as a region of increasing strategic relevance. How will leaders in these countries adjust to an evolving regional framework? Will there be coordinated efforts to establish an Asian-centered approach to Gulf stability, or will Asian rivalries make the region a theater of competition? Will US–China tensions force alignment choices among Asian powers? Will Asian states balance, bandwagon, hedge, or adopt some other approach to their Gulf relationships? These questions become even more important as the western boundaries of Asia increasingly come to incorporate the Middle East. The book will appeal to scholars and students in the fields of International Relations, Security Studies, and International Political Economy, as well as area specialists on the Gulf and those working on foreign policy issues on each of the Asian countries included. Professionals in government and non-government agencies will also find it very useful.